Geometric turntable

The exhibit uses mechanical interaction to visualize abstract geometric problems and stimulate children's interest in mathematics.

Interaction type: Mechanical, hands-on. The unit is designed for unsupervised public use: controls are recessed or shielded, moving parts are enclosed, and the interface is operable by a child of about six with no instruction. Where a screen is used, the language can be switched without changing the hardware, and the content can be replaced on site.

The front of the exhibit features a rotatable disc device with three interconnected square containers embedded inside. The containers hold colored liquids, and the centers of the three squares form a right angled triangle shape. Participants rotate the disk and can see that the liquid in two right angled squares fills exactly the square with the hypotenuse, thus proving the Pythagorean theorem. On the reverse side, liquid containers of different shapes are set up, and participants rotate the containers to understand the volume relationship between cones and cylinders, spheres and cylinders, and cones and spheres through the flow direction of the fluid.