Who
says science is boring? Not if you happen to be at the Philippine Science
Centrum (PSC) at the Riverbanks Center in Barangka, Marikina City. Located at
the E-Com Building along A. Bonifacio Avenue, the PSC is a hands-on science
museum recognized by the Department of Education, Department of Science and
Technology, and the Department of Tourism for its awesome exhibits.
A
project of the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology, a private
foundation that promotes science education in the country, the PSC has
something for everyone – even for those who don’t consider themselves science
buffs. All it takes to appreciate the exhibits is sense of wonder and an
inquiring mind.
That’s
really not difficult because there’s a lot to do there. At the PSC, young and
old alike can dabble in different interactive science experiments, making it an
ideal destination for students and the general public.
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| Amazing optical illusion - head on a platter |
If
you’ve ever been curious about the “how” and “why” of things, you’ll certainly get
all the answers at the PCS with its “scienterrific” offerings. This is the
place where visitors can touch, twist, play, hear, and see over a hundred
exhibits in 11 exciting galleries, namely, Lights, Bodyworks, Mathematics,
Electricity & Magnetism, Water, Vision and Perception, Infectious Diseases,
Earth Science, Space, Kids’ World, and Mechanics.
My
family and I were fortunate to be invited there recently and the trip was
certainly worth it. I learned how a roast pig feels with its head on a platter,
one of the many amusing optical illusions at the PSC. Another personal favorite
is the distorted room which showed my two kids (who almost have the same
height) in different sizes.
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| Kurt trying out the Magic Mirror |
This is actually a replica of the original
Ames room invented in 1934 by the American ophthalmologist Adelbert Ames Jr.
who was apparently influenced by the writings of the German physician and
physicist Hermann Helmholtz. When viewed with one eye through a pinhole, the
person finds nothing extraordinary about the room. But when people start
walking in it, they dramatically change in size.
There’s
a scientific reason for this optical illusion. The real shape of the room is trapezoidal,
meaning the walls are slanted and the ceiling and floor are inclined. The right
corner is also closer to the viewer than the left corner. This explains why a
person standing in one corner looks like a giant and suddenly becomes a dwarf at
the other corner.
Another
display that caught my eye (and hair) at the PSC was the Van de Graaff
generator. You’ve probably seen this device somewhere – it’s the big aluminum
ball on top of a pedestal. Invented by the American physicist Robert Jemison
Van de Graaff in 1931, this device can chalk up to 20 million volts of
electricity and was made to provide the energy needed by atom smashers.
Luckily, the one at the PSC is used mainly for experimentation purposes and
won’t shock anyone.
However,
it will literally make your hair stand on end. This happens because the device
transfers static electricity to the person touching it. As the hair follicles
are charged, they repel reach other. This is one hair-raising experiment you can’t
miss!
I
could give you many more reasons to visit the PSC but it’s best to go there
yourself. Bring the family along and discover the wonderful world of science.
Visit
Philippine
Science Centrum:
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