My first experience of IMAX
I visited the Singapore Science Center today. The place is very interesting for kids in the age group of 5-15. For others, it is a matter of recap of the science lessons.
Inside the science center is the Atrium, which has the Telsa coil demo twice daily. The coil generates 3.5 million volts. The demonstration was done in a very friendly manner by the host. The audience (about 150) stood forming a circle around the Tesla coil stage. When the coil was powered, electric sparks bursted out of the coil in to the air. Balloon filled with Hydrogen was kept at a distance from the coil. When the coil was ignited, the spark put the balloon into flames and exploded. Moral of the story - Helium and Hydrogen are the only other gases lighter than air. If you want to fill the birthday balloon, fill it with Helium, and not Hydrogen. Last part of the demo involved 5 volunteers from the audience. Each one was given a small fluorescent tube and were told to hold it in the air. When the coil was switched on, these 5 tubes far away from the sparks were lit by 'wireless propagation of electricity'. This is what Telsa wanted to actually do - transmit electricity across 2 continents without any wires.
With few more minutes in other sections of the science center, I moved to the IMAX theater for the Beavers show. The screen of the theater is a huge semi-circular dome type. This makes the movie shown as a 3D. It was awesome to watch the Beavers build their home and raise their young ones. They build dams out of wood to create an ecosystem that will grow in to an underwater green system.
Special effects of IMAX were amazing. For me, I had more effects around me. There were two little kids, one next to me and one in the front row. Both were around 3 years and were speaking Hindi. When the effects on screen appeared realistic, these kids used to show that they got afraid of it. They competed in identifying the things that came on screen - be it a dog (for fox), duck, snow clad mountains, baby beavers, etc. I am sure they will remember this show for a long time!
Inside the science center is the Atrium, which has the Telsa coil demo twice daily. The coil generates 3.5 million volts. The demonstration was done in a very friendly manner by the host. The audience (about 150) stood forming a circle around the Tesla coil stage. When the coil was powered, electric sparks bursted out of the coil in to the air. Balloon filled with Hydrogen was kept at a distance from the coil. When the coil was ignited, the spark put the balloon into flames and exploded. Moral of the story - Helium and Hydrogen are the only other gases lighter than air. If you want to fill the birthday balloon, fill it with Helium, and not Hydrogen. Last part of the demo involved 5 volunteers from the audience. Each one was given a small fluorescent tube and were told to hold it in the air. When the coil was switched on, these 5 tubes far away from the sparks were lit by 'wireless propagation of electricity'. This is what Telsa wanted to actually do - transmit electricity across 2 continents without any wires.
With few more minutes in other sections of the science center, I moved to the IMAX theater for the Beavers show. The screen of the theater is a huge semi-circular dome type. This makes the movie shown as a 3D. It was awesome to watch the Beavers build their home and raise their young ones. They build dams out of wood to create an ecosystem that will grow in to an underwater green system.
Special effects of IMAX were amazing. For me, I had more effects around me. There were two little kids, one next to me and one in the front row. Both were around 3 years and were speaking Hindi. When the effects on screen appeared realistic, these kids used to show that they got afraid of it. They competed in identifying the things that came on screen - be it a dog (for fox), duck, snow clad mountains, baby beavers, etc. I am sure they will remember this show for a long time!
Comments