Creating Nanomaterials exhibit

AUDIENCE: Ages 4 - Adult
TOPIC: Nanotechnology
An exhibit that was part of the Nanotechnology: What's the Big Deal? exhibition that demonstrates how scientists are using the ability of molecules to self-assemble to create consumer goods with surprising properties.
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DESCRIPTION

Creating Nanomaterials is an interactive, multimedia component of the Intro to Nanotechnology exhibit package that demonstrates how scientists are using the ability of molecules to self-assemble to create consumer goods with surprising properties. Visitors place and observe "molecules" on an air hockey table. When the air hockey table is activated, the "molecules" hover and assemble into patterns all by themselves—just like molecules in nanomaterials.

This exhibit was part of the Nanotechnology: What's the Big Deal? exhibition which toured the Arkansas Discovery Network beginning in 2010.

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  • View of a large blue and orange interactive exhibit which features hands-on geometric shapes that self organize on a air hockey table when learners turn on the air
  • Creating Nanomaterials exhibit as viewed from the right
  • Creating Nanomaterials exhibit as viewed from the right with a stool placed in front of it.
  • View of a large blue and orange interactive exhibit which features hands-on geometric shapes that self organize on a air hockey table when learners turn on the air
  • Creating Nanomaterials exhibit as viewed from the right
  • Creating Nanomaterials exhibit as viewed from the right with a stool placed in front of it.

DESCRIPTION

Creating Nanomaterials is an interactive, multimedia component of the Intro to Nanotechnology exhibit package that demonstrates how scientists are using the ability of molecules to self-assemble to create consumer goods with surprising properties. Visitors place and observe "molecules" on an air hockey table. When the air hockey table is activated, the "molecules" hover and assemble into patterns all by themselves—just like molecules in nanomaterials.

This exhibit was part of the Nanotechnology: What's the Big Deal? exhibition which toured the Arkansas Discovery Network beginning in 2010.

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

Scientists are figuring out how to create and manipulate materials as the nanoscale through self-assembly.

NANO CONTENT MAP

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.

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TYPE:
Exhibits
AUDIENCE:
Ages 4 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Engineering and Technology Nanotechnology Physical Sciences Materials Science
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2008
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

OMSI

FUNDING

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.