Your Visit

Contents
4 5 Welcome! Guide to Experimenting

Ground floor

7 Mechanics 9 Magnetism and Electricity 11 The Natural History of a Lightning Flash 13 Youth Laboratory 15 Workshops Toy Trains (basement)
First floor

Second floor

17 Perception 19 MatheMagic 21 Water, Nature, Chaos

23 Et Cetera 25 Spatial Imaging About Faces Plasma 27 Orbitarium The Sound of Wood 29 Light and Vision 31 Shows and Demonstrations Temporary Exhibitions 33 Park and Spielhsli 35 Restaurant and Picnic Birthday Parties 37 Your Conferences and Functions Technorama Shop 38 How to get to the Technorama

ground floor
paRk coriolis-carousel

The natural history of a lightning flash basemenT Toy Trains magnetism and electricity superconductivity

atoms

Youth laboratory

chemistry mechanics

kitchen

atrium

shop Ticket desk Restaurant self-service

cloakroom

enTRance

exhibiTiOni mechanics magnetism electricity Youth laboratory Toy Trains (basement)

shOWsi The natural history of a lightning flash superconductivity coriolis-carousel

1st floor
Ozone hole and greenhouse effect

Water, nature, chaos

Temporary exhibition

mathe magic

Schaffhausen

group Rooms perception Foyer gasesonly a breath, but powerful!

Winterthur Wlingen Basel

auditorium arena

exhibiTiOni perception mathemagic Water, nature, chaos Temporary exhibitions

shOWsi gasesonly a breath, but powerful! Winterthur Ozone hole and Tss greenhouse effect

Zrich

2nd floor
Laser-Kiosk

Light and Vision Administration

The Sound of Wood

Spatial Imaging Seminar Room

Orbitarium

Plasma / About Faces Foyer

Et Cetera

Auditorium Arena

ExhIbITIOnI Et Cetera Plasma /About Faces Spatial Imaging The Sound of Wood Orbitarium Light and Vision

ShOWSI Laser-Kiosk

Welcome!
We invite you to come to enjoy and explore Natures extraordinary phenomena in Technorama. With over 500 exhibits in 6500 sq.m. of exhibition space, Technorama in Winterthur leads the science centers in Europe in the art of awakening an enthusiasm for science and technology. We have more than 250 000 visitors yearly among them over 60 000 schoolchildrenand we are one of the biggest attractions in Switzerland. On the following pages you can find out what goes on in the Swiss National Science Center, and what you can expect when you get here. But no description, however detailed, can replace the wonder of your own personal experience. How can we possibly match in words what it is like to catch a flash of lightning, or steer a ball with your thoughts? Or the feeling of really getting hands-on with all of our exhibits (apart from a very few works of art)? You can only really appreciate this when you experience it for yourself. With this in mind, we hope you will enjoy reading about Technorama, and the fascinating encounter with natural phenomena and technology which you will find in Switzerlands unique and only science center! The Technorama Team

Any questions? Ask any of our friendly staff. You will recognise us by our Technorama uniform and logo. We are always on hand to help!

Guide to Experimenting
In Technorama, everything is hands-on. There are over 500 exhibitsexperiment stationsand you are allowed, indeed you are encouraged to get to grips with them, in both senses of the word. Whatever appeals to you, whatever your interest or inclination, youll find lots to interest you. Whatever your age, sex or subject backgroundthere really are experiments for everyone. Experience and enjoy unusual phenomena, and expect a few exciting Eureka! moments. The exhibition is divided into theme areas, and its up to you to decide where your voyage of discovery will start. Let your fancy or special interest lead you! At every experiment station there are easy instructions for what to do, in four languages, German, English, French and Italian. Dont be scared to try things outsee what happens when you set it in motion, or whatever else you might be asked to do. If you want to know more about the topic, there is always a short information text available.

Ground floor

Slinky waves. You can use this wide slinky spring to show transverse and longitudinal waves and, with a bit of practice, fascinating standing waves!

Rope Spinner. This rope loop not only seems to defy gravity, but also forms amazingly stable shapes.

Ground floor

Mechanics
The marvels of mechanics: when things move, you can often experience astonishing things. A rope remains suddenly vertical in space, water drops fly in an arc. Spinning bodies sometimes appear to defy the force of gravity. Are you playing with the spinning-top, or is it playing games with you? There are pendulums which sometimes swing in steady time and then, unpredictably, swing chaotically. The Harmonograph will draw your personal pendulum pattern on papera remarkable and unique work of art.
Tip Climb aboard the Rodeo-Top and play games with angular momentumthis physical concept becomes a wholebody experience.

Ground floor

Hovering top. Schoolgirl Mia and Nobel Laureate Richard Ernst are both amazed by this apparently weightless top.

Ferrofluid Hedgehog. Tiny magnetic particles convert the oil into a magnetic fluid which can be attracted by an electromagnet. The interplay of magnetic and surface tension forces allow a magnetic field to be magically visualized.

Earth Magnet. A large magnet inside this globe models the earths magnetic field, and the steel pins align themselves like compass needles around the magnetic north pole.

Ground floor

Magnetism and Electricity

Fascinating forces suddenly become tangible with these magnetic exhibits. You might think magnetism is invisible, but it is as real as light and soundand amazingly perceptible. Magnets are stubborn beasts, repelling and attracting at the same time and tempting you to have fun with them. Find out for yourself about electricitywhat the important points are about electric current, and how to choose the right voltage. From lighting to electric motors and generators, here you can clarify for yourself what was previously shrouded in darkness behind the power point!
Tip Pedal the Energy-Bike to make the radio work and boil a glass of water with the immersion heater. After this effort, you will view the energy consumption of household appliances with new eyes!

Ground floor

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Ground floor

Shows

The Natural History of a Lightning Flash

Twice daily, at 11.30 am and 2.30 pm, you can see this unique and spectacular electrical show, renowned throughout Europe. When lightning flashes through the air, with you standing safely in your Faraday Cage, you are thankful that you can rely on the laws of physics. We hope this is the nearest you ever come to a bolt of lightning! Duration: about 30 minutes.
Tip After the show, charge yourself up to half a million volts with the van de Graaff generator. A hair-raising experience and a super photo to take home!

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Ground floor

periodic Table. This display contains samples of each of the chemical elements here you can see what they are all really like.

infrared camera. This uses invisible heat radiation (infrared) to make visible pictures, giving unusual views and insights for example, a non-permanent heat-tattoo!

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Ground floor

Youth Laboratory
Measure, record, evaluate. You will really turn on to research in our Youth Laboratory. Here you can look at individual atoms with a raster tunnelling microscope, or work with high-speed or infrared cameras. No longer any need to be scared of higher physics, alpha-particles or photons! A large range of instruments allow you to do exciting investigations in electricity, sound and human physiology. And in our mini drop-tower you can see how astronauts do experiments in microgravity. In the Kitchen Laboratory you can uncover some of the secrets behind food preparation, and find out which chemical reactions we make use of daily in the kitchen. You will wear a lab coat in the Chemistry Laboratory, equipped to professional standards, when you are working with acids, gases and flames. The Cell-Lab has special benches for work in the area of microbiology and genetics. Youth Laboratory can be booked for use by school and other groups for morning sessions. Apart from that, the laboratory is open for all visitors. For the complete Youth Laboratory programme see: www.technorama.ch

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Ground floor | basement

Chocolate Workshop. Here you experience the entire process, from cocoa beans to tasting the luscious finished product.

Forensic science workshop. Counterfeit or not? Using actual counterfeit notes, you can find out about the safety features of banknotes and forensic investigation techniques.

Maerklin exhibit. A century ago, they were the most wonderful Christmas presents imaginable model railway layouts will still make your eyes shine, however young or old you are!

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Ground floor | basement

Workshops
There are exciting workshops running in the Youth Laboratory every day. With expert support, you can be creating your own special perfume, making a lipstick, experimenting with microwave cookery or a special treatmaking your own marshmallows! If youve a sweet-tooth youll be queuing up for the Chocolate Workshop. There is an extra charge for workshops to cover running costs. Every month a fresh theme. See our website for information: www.technorama.ch

Pure nostalgia

Toy Trains
The exhibition space in the basement houses the worlds biggest tinplate model railway collection (Dr Bommers) in the world. Really worth a visit!

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1st floor

Mirror drawing. Its annoyingly tricky when your eyes give you contradictory information about what your hands are doing. But dont despair the brain quickly learns to adapt.

Stereo hearing. Where was the tube struckright or left of center? We can tell from the times that the sound takes to get to the right and left ears, even when the difference is less than a millisecond!

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1st floor

Perception
True or false? Reality is not always what it seems to be at first sight. Take a trip through our set of sense experiences and illusions and end up amazed to realise that your view of the world originates inside your own head. Here is a wonderful and exciting experience!

Tip This area is probably the most fun for anyone getting started in science. Heres where sceptics become the biggest fans!

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1st floor

All triangles are alike. It seems impossible at first to make the shadow of any triangle fit the shape of an equilateral triangle, but with a bit of a struggle you can manage it.

Brain teasers. These logic and 3-dimensional puzzles really strain the grey cells, but your patience will be well rewarded with increasing success.

Sisyphus iii. This steel ball is steered as though by magic (its magnetism really) to trace mathematical curves in the sand, producing patterns which may remind you of a Japanese garden.

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1st floor

MatheMagic
Success is on the agenda hereeven for those who have always found maths and geometry a closed book. The experiment stations invite you to have fun with logic-puzzles, parabolas, hyperbolas, diagrams and transformations. Forget about proofsyou only play with them and then the penny drops! A Work of Art in Action Sisyphus III, the brainchild of the American artist, Bruce Shapiro, is a real work of art. A computer controls the path of a steel ball round a sand-covered disc, and produces fantastic geometrical patterns. This really is mathematics to meditate by!
Tip Travel with the locomotive along the same side (perhaps?) of this twisted Moebius strip and discover something amazing.

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1st floor

Cloud Rings. Here you can produce magical vortex rings of cloud, which rise majestically to the ceiling.

icy Bodies. The small pieces of dry ice, looking like tiny comets, evaporate when they meet the deep-blue water and then rush about unpredictably.

Fiery Tornado. In the real world, tornados are dangerous and devastating, but here we can safely experience this beautiful, controlled (but still scary), five metre high fiery tornado.

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1st floor

Water, Nature, Chaos

In this sector you can see how waves and whirlwinds develop and die away, how rivers and currents flow. Youll be amazed how cloud rings (ring vortices) are produced, how giant water drops appear to hover in the Stroboscope Fountain, and how a massive Firetornado develops.
Tip In the Stroboscope Fountain, can you sweep your finger between two of the apparently hovering water drops without getting it wet?

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2nd floor

Flash Shadows. Here you can freeze your movements as shadows on the phosphor wall. Use your imagination, flexibility and jumping skill to produce exciting and unusual silhouettes.

LevelHead. This will really test your spatial ability! Real and virtual worlds melt into a three-dimensional labyrinth, through which you must navigate safely.

Alien Voices. A remarkable telephoneit distorts your voice so that you sound like an alien from outer space.

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2nd floor

Et Cetera
Here are some unusual exhibits which we couldnt fit into our other sectors, but didnt want you to miss. Try LevelHeadit will really tax your 3-D visualizing to get through this half real, half virtual labyrinth. Snap yourself in the Flash Shadow exhibit or create original pictures in the shadow-mosaics of Deep Walls. The speak your weight machine, will comment charmingly on your weight, and your voice in the British telephone boxes can be distorted comically or grotesquely. You can also have your walking style evaluated on the biometric walkway.
Tip Play Nine Mens Morris against the computer, and test yourself against artificial intelligence.

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2nd floor

Hologram portrait. This is one of the first green-laser holograms ever madeits so real you think you could touch it!

Face Landscape. Use this set of light sheets to produce a contour map of your face. The worse your grimace, the more rugged the terrain!

plasma Light-beetle. Put your hand into this dish to make the little particles glow as if by magic. It is one of the enchanting phenomena from the world of plasma.

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2nd floor

Spatial Imaging
In the three-dimensional worlds produced by holograms and real mirror-images, the objects in space are so convincing that you feel sure you can grab hold of them. A gallery of holograms invites you to discover this fascinating third dimension.

Until Autumn 2010

About Faces
Our faces and the expressions we can produce is the exciting field of experimentation here.

From autumn 2010

Plasma
A chance to play magical games with the stuff which stars are made of. More than 99 % of the visible universe is in the form of plasma. Here are exciting and aesthetically pleasing experiments with this fourth state of matter (after solids, liquids and gases).

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2nd floor

Orbitarium. Here you are as though in an orbiting spacecraft, looking down on the most enthralling of the heavenly bodiesour planet earth.

Earth history. A special presentation in the Orbitarium: the fascinating history of our home planet, narrated by astrophysicist, Prof. Bruno Deiss.

Sound of wood. What is making the ball clatter upwards in this wooden constructionis it levers, wheels or what?

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2nd floor

Orbitarium
Its dark in the Orbitarium except for the 1.5m diameter illuminated globe, which is the object of everyones attention. Press buttons on the surface of this acrylic glass planet and you can see, among other things, the speeded up jostling motion of its continents, the distribution of bushfires and artificial light, or a simulation of world-wide aeroplane movements. You must not miss this astronauts view of the earth!

The Sound of Wood

The French artist, Pierre Andres, works exclusively in wood, and has created these original and durable objects. They make a wonderful playground for all who enjoy things that goyou can crank, pedal, lever and shove them to your hearts content! They are complex, fascinating and sometimes deafeningly loud. Children (not exclusively) really love it!

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2nd floor

Light island. Endless possibilities experimenting with light.

Spinning with Light. In the flashing coloured light of the stroboscope, the spinning and vibrating threads produce astonishing 3-D shapes.

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2nd floor

Light and Vision

Nothing is more important in our perception of the world than light. Its power and beauty make a huge impression on us. In this sector, you can see light in a multitude of formsyou can change it, measure it, catch, interrupt and colour it. You can find out why the sky is blue, what makes a rainbow, and also play with light and shadows. There is also a variety of experiments where you can test the ability and the limitations of the human eye.
Tip See the laser demonstrations in the new LaserKioskevery day at 11.00 am and 3.15 pm.

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Coriolis-Carousel. No need to feel giddybut unexpected and astounding things happen on the spinning earth.

Superconductivity. Cooled in liquid nitrogen, superconducting materials show amazing properties e.g. frozen in magnetic fields can make objects hover.

Gas Show. The explosion of the oxygen-hydrogen mixture is not only deafeningly loud; the high speed photograph of it is also magically beautiful.

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Shows and Demonstrations

There are 15 min to 30 min demos and shows every day. Current themes are: ElectricityThe natural history of a lightning flash, Gasonly a breath but powerful!, Coriolis-Carousel, Superconductivity, LaserKiosk and the Ozone Hole and Greenhouse Effect. You can find details and times on our website, www.technorama.ch or in the leaflet At a glance which you can pick up at the information desk. All shows are at no extra charge.

Temporary Exhibitions
Every year there is a new special exhibition on the first floor. From October 2010, the theme is Human Physiology and Biomechanics. You can find dates and themes on our website: www.technorama.ch.

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Park and Spielhsli

A large park surrounds the Swiss Science Center, Technorama, where you can play, picnic, barbecue, or just enjoy the surroundings. There are outdoor exhibits and the range of attractions is continually being expanded. At weekends the Spielhsli (little playhouse) is open for the youngsters, with supervision always on hand. See our website, www.technorama.ch, for opening times.

park. A range of outdoor exhibits invite you to experiment, or just contemplate!

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picnic Zone. Here is just the spot for your picnic, with a view of the Atrium.

Restaurant. Three different menus, pasta and salad buffets, choice of desserts and ice creams something for everyones taste.

Workshop. Working together in one of the labbased workshops makes a special and memorable birthday treat.

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Restaurant and Picnic

Technoramas large self-service restaurant is on the ground floor. If you bring your own picnic, you can enjoy it in the Picnic Zone, with a splendid view of the Magic Wave in the Inner Courtyard.

Birthday Parties
This is always a winner! A party at the Swiss Science Center Technorama is a marvellous present for the birthday boy or girl and friends. They can enjoy a special workshop and all of the Technorama attractions. A mid-day meal in the restaurant is also an option. More information on www.technorama.ch or telephone 052 244 08 44.

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Auditorium. One of the five spaces which Technorama can offer for business or social functions.

Atrium. Functions in Technoramas Atrium have the Magic Wave to contribute to its enchanting atmosphere.

Technorama Shop. Fascinating experiments, books, attractive objects as souvenirs and unusual presents.

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Your Conferences and Functions

Technorama offers inspiring surroundings for all such occasions. Auditorium or Conference rooms are all available for hire. For details of rooms, catering, social programme, see our website www.technorama.ch or telephone 052 244 08 44.

Technorama Shop
Our shop opens at 12 noon and is a real Aladdins Cave for everyone. The range of articlesmainly related to Technoramas exhibitsis phenomenal and amazing. And there is plenty available to suit all pockets.

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How to get to the Technorama

Technorama is easy to reach, either by public transport or by car. Public Transport S-Bahn trains S8, S12 or S29 to the Oberwinterthur Station. From Oberwinterthur Station, about 10 minutes on foot. Or else from Winterthur Main Station take the town bus no.5 to the Technorama stop. Check for special offers from SBB RailAway: www.railaway.ch. by car Leave the highway A1 at junction 72, Oberwinterthur, direct to Technorama. Ample free parking next to building. Schaffhausen

Winterthur Wlingen Basel

Winterthur Tss

Zrich

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Winterthur Ohringen

Junction 72 Oberwinterthur Frauenfeld St. Gallen

TECHNORAMA
Bus Station

SBB Station Oberwinterthur Elgg Aadorf

SBB Main Station Winterthur

Turbenthal

Opening Times exhibiTiOn Tuesday to sunday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Closed Mondays and 25th December. Open public holidays (including Mondays). ResTauRanT self-service restaurant open 9.00 am to 6.00 pm www.technorama.ch The entire exhibition is accessible to wheelchair users.

swiss science Center Technorama Technoramastrasse 1 CH-8404 Winterthur T +41 (0)52 244 08 44 F +41 (0)52 244 08 45 info@technorama.ch www.technorama.ch

Swiss Science Center Technorama, PDF 11 / 2011