Lawrence Hall of Science

How do roller coasters overcome the force of gravity? What type of arts and crafts flying machine would soar highest in a wind tube? What’s the difference between a strike-slip fault and a reverse fault? The answers to these questions and many more can be found at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley.

Exhibits here are interactive, so curious learners of every age can tackle math and science hands on. The hardest part may be getting into the door, because kids can spend hours climbing Pheena the fin whale, a life-size model of a blue whale beached just outside the museum.

Alongisde Pheena, a giant DNA sculpture is another free exhibit that kids can climb through and read about, learning how DNA strands hold the blueprints to every living thing on the planet. While the kids are thus distracted, parents will have plenty to look at, too, as the Lawrence Hall of Science offers postcard views from its lofty perch in the Berkeley hills.

If you can get past the fun at the front door, there’s much more to do inside. Ongoing exhibits include a KidsLab, with building blocks, a Gravity Wall, and giant, climb-through kaleidoscope for preschoolers; Kapla, simple building blocks that transform into complex structures and art pieces; an Idea Lab, when facilitators guide visitors through scientific concepts; and nanoZone, where you can measure, inspect, research, and investigate cutting-edge nanotech developments.

Outside, in the beautiful Sunstone garden, kids and adults alike can explore Forces that Shape the Bay, learning about rock types, riding earthquake simulators, and reading about the formation of the San Francisco Bay. Here, you’ll discover that an earthquake on a strike-slip fault occurs between two side-by-side land masses slipping sideways past each other, while a reverse fault occurs when one side gets shoved over the other. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was the result of a strike-slip fault.

On exhibit through January of 2011, Scream Machines is another example of science mixed in with whole lot of fun. The exhibit explains the physics of roller coasters and the physiology of thrill seeking, detailing how the body processes dizziness and even taking you on a simulated ride. Interactive experiments demonstrate how the elliptical shape of a roller coaster loop helps keep the coaster safely on the track.

As you prepare to leave, distractions at the exit lobby will keep you lingering longer. Activities here include craft-making by the wind tunnel, when you’ll find that self-made flying machines with simulated wings and parachutes shoot up the wind tunnel far higher.

HelloMetro Tip: Saturday night stargazing on the first and third Saturday evenings of each month are free throughout the year. Astronomical telescopes will be available, along with amateur astronomers to guide you through the stars.

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.