EC1

Design and Construction of a Series of 10 Interactive Stations Representing Phenomena and Processes in Classical Mechanics for the “Scientific Playground” Exhibition at the EC1 Science and Technology Center in Łódź.

Between 2018 and 2019, we designed and built a series of 10 interactive stations presenting phenomena and processes in classical mechanics for the “Scientific Playground” exhibition at the EC1 Science and Technology Center in Łódź.

One of the exhibits, the Mechanical Clock, is an interactive station for two participants that demonstrates the operation of a pendulum clock with George Graham’s escapement mechanism. One participant acts as the pendulum, while the other serves as the working load of the mechanism. The clock’s escapement controls the motion of the gear train with a 1:60 ratio by locking and releasing the escape wheel at fixed angles corresponding to time intervals. Each impulse advances the clock’s three hands, demonstrating the functioning of the clock mechanism.

The Oblique Projectile in Variable Gravity station consists of a 3-meter-long inclined frame where balls can be launched manually at a set angle perpendicular to the frame’s tilt. The ball’s motion is recorded by an IP camera fixed in a constant position relative to the inclined frame. The frame, made of steel profiles, has a magnetic board at the bottom for easy installation of obstacles along the ball’s trajectory. This configuration allows for the observation of projectile motion under varying local gravitational components. The geometric coupling of the camera and frame enables the simulation of oblique projectile motion with a variable gravitational force.

The Gear Puzzle is an interactive station featuring a table with holes that serve as bearings for puzzle components. The puzzle consists of shafts acting as rotation axes, gears, pulleys, drive belts, and connectors. The dimensions of all elements allow users to easily construct functioning mechanical power transmission systems. The goal is to transfer motion from a crank element to a tubular bell.

The Mechanical Resonance system comprises four interactive stations demonstrating different aspects of forced mechanical vibrations in systems with fixed resonance frequencies. The main station is electronically connected to a multimedia kiosk. Its actuator system includes a long spring with a suspended magnet acting as the oscillating mass in a vertical system. Vibrations are induced by the interaction of a sinusoidally variable magnetic field, which the user can adjust.

The Mad Mechanic’s Maze is a transparent, interactive maze with more than 50 elements representing different simple machines. It allows two balls to be moved from the start to the center of the maze.

The Gear Multiplier and Divider station features a manually operated reduction gear with 20 stages and a 2:1 ratio, providing a total reduction ratio of 1,048,575:1. On the opposite side, there is an interactive multiplier gear with six stages, offering a 1:64 ratio. All gear wheels are equipped with rotation counters.

The Handcar station consists of a functioning handcar built according to pre-World War II plans. It powers a scrolling screen displaying a contextual graphic background.

The project was carried out by Induforce.