Boats can be very big or very small, for hard work or leisurely fishing, ugly or dashing, charming, smelly--but always exciting! And no matter what their size or purpose, all boats wonderfully demonstrate such basic physical forces as buoyancy and gravity, drag and thrust, and pressure and displacement.
Visitors will learn how the ancient Egyptians designed their river cruisers and how modern navies keep armored vessels afloat. They'll test their sea legs aboard real boats and marvel at a gargantuan cruise ship propeller. They'll hoist a sail and plot a course by star and sextant. They'll challenge friends to a row-off and do their darnedest to sink a cargo ship. And they'll try--Oh, they'll try!--to lose their families at sea.
So grab a lifejacket and cast off the ropes--Ships Ahoy! makes for port in February 2009!
For more information about renting Ships Ahoy! please contact Felicia Maffia felicia_maffia@pacsci.org (206)443-4626.
STAYING AFLOAT AREA
How are boats designed to do the things they do? Why do all boats share the same basic shape? What physical forces keep boats right-side-up and afloat-and what miscalculations could send them to a watery grave?
|
How does a propeller work? Why do sails come in so many shapes? How do boats use steam or gasoline to propel themselves?
|
How do ship captains know where to steer the boat when they can't see anything but water? Why are stars so important to sailors? What are the different navigation challenges faced by riverboats and ocean-going ships?
|
ADDITIONAL AREAS
Tots Area: With a kids-eye-level look at the world of water safety, the tots-only area will keep even the most active little buccaneers involved in the learning process.
Discovery Cart: Ships Ahoy! includes a mobile, interpretive education station, complete with activities and touchable artifacts for visitors to explore under the guidance of a trained staff member.
Space Required
- 6,000-8,000 sq. ft.*
- Minimum 12 ft. ceiling height
- 12-14 weeks
- Minimum 20 interactive stations
- Mobile "Discovery Cart" teaching station
- "All Hands" tots area
- Marketing and educational materials
- Pacific Science Center staff to assist in installation
Tentative Seattle Debut: February 2009
Tentative First Availability: Fall 2009
*Pacific Science Center would like to develop a smaller, 2,000 sq. ft. version of the currently-planned 6,000-8,000 sq. ft. Ships Ahoy! show. Your interest could help us secure funding to build such an exhibition. For more information, please contact Felicia Maffia at felicia_maffia@pacsci.org or (206)443-4626.