Real-World Problems & Solutions

Avalanche

Does the sand all pile up in the same way?

Where: Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6, Mezzanine

Bay Bridge Model

Every bridge has built in rhythms.

Where: Koret Foundation Bay Walk

Tilt a spinning bicycle wheel while you’re sitting in a swivel chair and—surprise—you’ll start spinning in circles, too. You can also witness the same phenomenon here by hanging a spinning wheel from its axle.

Where: Crossroads: Getting Started

Golden Gate Bridge

In San Francisco, bridges and buildings are made to move.

Where: Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits

Magic Wand

Wave the wand quickly and see an image appear.

Where: Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening

Rust Wedge

Rust is a major issue in waterfront buildings, as water enters cracks in masonry structures and rusts the underlying steel reinforcement. This exhibit shows the expansive force of rusting steel. A piece of iron placed in the cleft of a block of concrete is beginning to rust—it will expand over time and eventually fracture the block.

Where: Koret Foundation Bay Walk