Gravity Discovery Centre
The Gravity Discovery Centre and Observatory is a "hands-on" science education, astronomy, Aboriginal culture and tourist centre, situated on the site of the Gravity Precinct in bushland near Gingin, north of Perth, Western Australia.
It is a not-for-profit interactive science education centre, operated by The Gravity Discovery Centre Foundation Board Inc. It received government funding of $300,000 to cover the period 2021-2023. The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions manages the bushland surrounding the Discovery Centre and the observatory.
In 2005, John de Laeter and David Blair were awarded the Eureka Prize for "promoting understanding of science" in recognition of his creation of the Gravity Discovery Centre.
Exhibits
The Discovery Centre
Magnetic CartVisitors can roll this cart, which has strong magnets attached to it, down a ramp. They are invited to notice how it slows down as it passes over the metal plates, which are made of copper or aluminium: both good electrical conductors.
The moving magnet creates electricity in the metal plates – the kinetic energy of the cart is converted to electrical energy, slowing it down.OzGrav Model
OzGrav is the abbreviation for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery.Bernoulli Ball
Bernoulli's principle explains that an increase in the speed of air produces a decrease in static pressure. The principle is named after Daniel Bernoulli who published it in his book Hydrodynamica in 1738.
In this interactive display, when the ball moves to the side it is pushed back toward the centre of the air flow. The upward flow of air provides an upward force on the ball keeping it suspended – apparently defying gravity.Space Capsule
This spinning display demonstrates gravitational forces.
The Solar System Walk
The Solar System Walk is an educational 1km scale model of the Solar System. The walk begins at the Sun and disappears along a track through native bush. Alongside the track, model planets and their moons are located at the correct scaled distances from the Sun. Information plaques are located at each planet. The walk finishes at Pluto, although Pluto is now defined as a dwarf planet, rather than a planet.On the 1km scale model, the relative size of the Earth should be about the size of a peppercorn. And Saturn should only be the size of a peanut or a coffee bean, Mercury should be the size of a cake freckle, Jupiter should be almost the size of a golf ball and Pluto should be the size of a pin head. However, the centre staff have multiplied the size scale of the planets and moons by a factor of 200, to allow visitors to view more practically sized model planets and moons.
The Solar System Walk is designed to give an understanding of true sizes and distances in the Solar System, and the vastness of the Universe.
During the walk visitors might spot one of the centre's resident kangaroos. Wildflowers are abundant in this area during late winter and spring.
As noted above, because Pluto is now considered a “dwarf planet”, visitors will find a replica of Pluto at his final resting place: a satin-lined coffin in the main exhibition area of the GDC.