Key Terms Defined
- Convection current
- Air or liquid moving from place to place while carrying heat
When the air inside the balloon is heated, the molecules in the air begin to move around and spread out, and the air becomes less dense. The surrounding, colder air falls beneath the hot air. This forces the warm air upward, which pushes the balloon up with it. The moving warm air creates a convection current.
- Museum Hours
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- Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Museum Location
- Getting Here
More Activities
- Online Activity
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Wind Turbine
Build a wind turbine to generate electricity and explore energy transformation.
- Online Activity
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Make and Fly a Helicopter
See how changing the paper helicopter's shape or weight affects its flight.
- Online Activity
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Cook Food Using the Sun
Absorb heat energy to create a solar oven.
More Exhibits
- Exhibit
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Wright Flyer
Relive the birth of aviation alongside this history-making replica.
- Exhibit
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Science Storms
Feel the physics and consider the chemistry of natural phenomena like tornados and avalanches.
- Exhibit
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Imaging: The Tools of Science
See how computer-based imaging technology is used in medicine, science, and other fields.
- Exhibit
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MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition
Try your hand at busting or confirming myths in wildly entertaining experiments.