MaterialWorks

Filters
One clear-fronted disc contains water with particles in it which you can turn and observe the use of a filter to separate them. The other disc contains tiny balls of different sizes. When you turn the disc the balls are sieved as they fall by barriers with holes of different sizes.

Surfaces
A range of different sheets of material are laid out. You can try to draw on them using chalk to investigate their surface texture.tering the position of the panel and placing screens in front of it representing different weather conditions alters the speed of the disc.

Inappropriate materials
A standard child's bicycle has had many of its parts replaced by those made out of an inappropriate material for the job it is supposed to do. When you compare it with a normal bike you see why certain materials are usually used.

Types of materials
Children can examine a number of different materials including rock, steel, aluminium, wood, rubber and plastic and compare their properties using a magnet, a conductivity tester and a thermometer.

Compression bottles
A number of plastic bottles contain various solids, liquids and air at different pressures. You can pick them up, squeeze them and feel their weight.

Flow
Four clear tubes with obstacles along their length are set in a frame. They contain liquids of differing viscosity. You can tilt the frame to observe the different rates at which they flow.

Video Microscope
Pupils hold samples of different materials under a video camera which displays the image on a monitor. The image is magnified 25 times, clearly showing the surface of the materials.

Atoms
A large number of small balls representing atoms can be stacked on three different grids - square, triangle and circle to show the crystalline structure of solids. You can also move the balls around on the base to simulate the differences between liquids and gases.

Insulation
Children can place different materials upon a hotplate (30-35degrees C). Placing a thermochromic thermometer first on the hotplate and then on the materials they can compare their insulating properties.

Mixing
One disc contains two non-mixing liquids. When you turn it they appear to mix but gradually separate into two distinct layers. The other disc contains water with sand particles of different sizes. When you turn it the particles slowly settle according to their size.

Viscosity
Three small clear vessels contain liquids of different viscosity, while a fourth contains tiny glass beads. Each has a fish shape in it. By turning knobs you can move these shapes through the material, feeling the resistance to movement which shows their viscosity.

Change of state
A small pan contains a wax. When you press the button the wax is heated and you can observe how it changes into a liquid. Then it cools and at a certain point the wax returns to the solid state.