The interactive Power Distribution exhibit engages visitors in a playful exploration of energy transformations.
Propellers, audio stations, model houses, mirror spheres, quaint model trains, platforms that elevate visitors, and custom-designed kinetic artwork and activity stations are all possible components of the exhibit.
Using simple handpowered cranks, visitors directly generate power and control local or landscape-distributed "stations" by converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. An optional patch panel allows visitors to switch the distribution of energy to stations of their choice.
A special attraction of this exhibit is it's potential to offer a combination of individually-controlled stations and those which involve the interaction or coordinated efforts of two or more people.
Physical principles such as electrical-to-mechanical and mechanical-to-electrical energy transfer, as well as impedance matching (gear train matching to load, series vs. parallel connections of motors, etc.) will all be directly and intuitively experienced by visitors.
