FACT SHEET
WONDERWORKS
QUESTACON’S WONDERWORKS EXHIBITION IS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE BEAUTIFUL AND
FASCINATING SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENA. WONDERWORKS ENCOURAGES VISITORS TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.
We’ve all seen a stunning rainbow after a summer afternoon rain shower, or the symmetry in a flower.
Observations of the world around us are what led humans to invent science. Finding patterns, beauty and
symmetry are important in quantifying and predicting phenomena in the world around us.
A highlight of the exhibition is the Wonderworks Curiosity Corner, where visitors can join Questacon staff
and volunteers on an exploration of anamorphic mirrors, ellipses, puzzles and word illusions and a range of
demonstrations and challenges.
The centrepiece of Wonderworks is the Ames Room. A video screen inside this strange, distorted room will
show you appearing to grow and shrink as you walk around. The Ames Room’s sloping walls, floor and
ceiling creates this surprising optical illusion.
The science behind beautiful bubbles is explored as visitors shine white light through a thin sheet of
bubble film and watch the colours that are projected onto a wall. The colours seen on the wall provide
clues as to just how thick the bubble film is in places.
Visitors to Wonderworks can also see themselves stretch into infinity in all directions as they climb inside a
giant kaleidoscope. The kaleidoscope consists of three mirrors forming an equilateral triangle. Light
reflects off visitors and onto each mirror’s surface. It then reflects off the surface and bounces into the
other mirrors, creating multiple reflections.
The Questacon website also includes information on each exhibit and teacher resources.
King Edward Terrace Canberra
02 6270 2800
www.questacon.edu.au
Media enquiries:
0439 399 912
media@questacon.edu.au
Follow us on
Current as of July 2013 [12276]