January 25, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Trien, 585-410-6359, strien@museumofplay.org
Round Out Your
Knowledge about Circles!
Learn all about the math, science, and beauty of circles when you visit Secrets of Circles, a new exhibit on view at Strong National Museum of Play® February 17 through May 6, 2007. Here are some riddles and fun facts about this simple, but elegant shape. . .
Q: What do a bagel, a ball, and a banana all have in common?
A: If you slice them through the center, you’ll always find a circle!
Did you know?
• Every single point on the edge of a circle is the same distance from the center. The distance from the center to the edge is called a radius.
• You can fold a circle in half through the center many, many times, and it will always match up
• A compass is a simple tool that has been used for centuries to help people draw perfect circles.
Q: What makes a round wheel’s ride so smooth?
A: Every spot on the rim of a circular wheel is exactly the same distance from the center.
Did you know?
• When wheels were first invented, they were very heavy. To make the tires lighter, inventors simply carved out sections of the wheel, and this led to wheels with spokes.
• The spoke of a wheel is the same as the radius of a circle—the distance between the edge and the center point.
• There is a type of salamander living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains that coils itself into a ball when frightened. If it is scared on a hill, it will roll right down!
Q: How many ways can you fold a circle in half?
A: An infinite number, because the circle is perfectly symmetrical.
Did you know?
• Circles are shapes that are perfectly symmetrical. They can be divided in half in many, many different ways.
• The line that divides something evenly so that both halves are the same is called a line of symmetry.
• Many things found in nature are symmetrical: mushrooms, apples, starfish, ripples in water. You just have to figure out where the line is that divides them evenly.
Q: If you were going to build a house to have the greatest amount of floor space, which shape would you choose?
A: Compared with any other shape and using the same amount of materials, a circular house would have the largest amount of floor space.
Did you know?
• Yurts, from Mongolia, and tepees, used by Native Americans, are two examples of circular homes that are easy to pack up and move and require fewer materials for a greater amount of floor space.
• Many famous cities, like Moscow, Paris, and Washington, DC are laid out in a circular pattern, with streets fanning out from a central round plaza or park.
• Circular homes are typically twice as energy efficient as conventional homes.
The above material was adapted from educational materials accompanying The Secrets of Circles. The exhibit was created and is circulated by the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose and is made possible with major funding from the National Science Foundation and corporate support from KPMG, Fujitsu, Computer Products of America, and Marvell Semiconductor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Science Foundation.
Strong National Museum of Play®, located in downtown Rochester, New York, is the only museum in the world devoted to the study of play as it illuminates American popular culture.
Hours (Beginning September 5, 2006):
Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
Admission Fees
General Admission (does not include Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™):
Adults $9.00; Seniors $8.00; Children (2–17) $7.00; Children younger than two free; Strong members free.
Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™:
General Admission fee plus $3.00 per person for members and nonmembers; Children younger than two free.
Due to limited capacity, entry to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™ is by timed tickets only. Advance purchase is recommended. Please call 585-263-2700 to purchase timed tickets.