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Ball Tower
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In this kinetic sculpture, tennis balls rise to the ceiling, roll through tunnels, and navigate mazes – all powered by manually. Turn cranks, work levers, and maneuver magnetic ramps to guide the balls along many different pathways through the sculpture. The Ball Tower teaches children about the engineering principles behind simple machines and encourages them to influence the path of the balls as they decide which controls to activate.
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The Ball Tower is operated through multiple cranks, ramps, and access points, requiring many children to work together to move a ball through the sculpture. Children develop social language skills and turn-taking abilities as they negotiate the mechanics of the machine and cooperate to make the balls follow a path.
Children learn about cause and effect as they try to determine and influence where the ball will roll. The movement of balls within the sculpture is not random. Each ball drop, each turn of a crank, each pull of a lever influences the sculpture in a specified way. Therefore, it is possible to control where the balls go using logic, problem solving, and deductive reasoning.
Kinetic sculpture is one example of the interplay between art, science and technology. Many household appliances are designed by artists to be both functional and attractive. Architects and industrial designers create buildings and spaces that are safe, comfortable, and visually striking. The Ball Tower encourages children to think about how science and art come together to solve problems and create beauty.
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