"thoss" wrote in message
...
At 04:00:38 on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 Dr. Barry Worthington opined:-

That seems to be the way museums are going nowadays. Have you been to
the Science Museum lately? Serious science exhibits have been banished
in favour of kids' toys.

Sadly this is the case. The same thing applies to the NRM in York to some
extent and certainly to the excellent Tim Hunkin "How television works"
displays at the Bradford Museum of Photography, Film and Television. If
museums are to be made more appealing to children, there need to be other
museums for people who want serious scientific exhibits which provide
*information* and *explanation* as opposed just to fun and entertainment.

Sometimes "kids' toys" can be very informative, though. There was a
temporary exhibition at the Science Museum a few years ago about
aerodynamics and what makes a plane fly. They had a miniature wind tunnel
with foam wing sections which you could put your arm through to experience
the forces of drag and lift, and the concept of stalling if you increase the
angle of attack too far. Similarly they had an excellent demonstration of
the complicated swash plate linkage on a helicopter which changes the pitch
of each blade as the rotor turns so as it give more lift at one side,
rolling and pitching the helicopter. What as shame that this exhibition was
only temporary.