The Mechanical Universe
Detail of Planetarium
Details: The Mechanical Universe [pdf] / Science programme leaflet [pdf]
Key Stage: 3 and 4
Length: 1-2 hours (adaptable)
Maximum number: See Planning a visit
Notes: Suitable for 21st Century Science GCSE unit Observing the Universe
The museum has a fantastic collection of globes and orreries including a variety of table-top planetaria that were popular during the eighteenth century. These models illustrate changing ideas about the structure of the solar system and the Universe as a whole.
Planteraria and orreries
In this session we examine a variety of these objects to find out how they were used to model different aspects of the Universe.
Map
Students will have the opportunity to consider problems of scale, to compare the differences between the Earth-centred and Sun-centred models of the solar system, and to examine the arguments of Copernicus and Galileo.
This session offers particular insights into how science works.
