Prototype demo of Boston waterworks
I built an interactive museum exhibit that demonstrates both the history and the physics of how Boston gets clean water. The tupperware are reservoirs and the faucets are houses, everything is connected with clear acrylic tubing and pvc valves. The lowest reservoir represents the Chestnut hill reservoir right next to the pumping station, the upper reservoir, Fisher Hill and the highest reservoir is the Quabbin. The idea for the demo came from Marcis Kempe. The labels were laser-etched at DangerAwesome.
The procedure for the demo is as follows:
- Fill the bottom reservoir and have children open the bottom valve (water flows) and top valve (water doesn't flow).
- Do the job that the pumping station would do and fill the "Fisher Hill" reservoir. water then flows from the upper faucet.
- Fill the "Quabbin" reservoir and water flows even without the other two reservoirs thus demonstrating why the Chestnut Hill pumping station is no longer needed.
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Both adults and children have had problems understanding some of the concepts, it has helped a lot to have them see it with their own eyes.
The museum is incredibly beautiful and I highly recommend a visit. http://www.waterworksmuseum.org
Here is the demo being constructed.