Real-time models leave students amused at Visvesvaraya museum

It was the first time that many of the 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds visited Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum to see models of Wright Brothers’ Flyer Kitty Hawk, Science on a Sphere among others.

Although their science classes have introduced them to these concepts, experiencing a working model was possible only in the museum.

“I did not understand the importance of these machines till I saw them here,” said Anshi, 14, who visited the museum with her classmates and teachers.

The museum was opened for students of schools in Bengaluru on its 52nd anniversary on Thursday.

Pavithra S, a science teacher at JGKV school, Kalyan Nagar, said they were looking forward to a curriculum where students can visit such museums once a year so that they have real-time experience of what they are taught. She said it is important they see the working models so that they understand the concepts better.

Dr K G Kumar, director of the museum, said, “My son is in class 11, and when he asks for explanation of certain mechanics taught in class, I am able to show them to him by bringing him to the museum, but not all students get that chance.”

He said, from this year, the museum will organise demonstrations in schools so that those children who cannot make it to the museum too have an opportunity to learn.

The occasion saw interactive demonstrations of concepts such as frictional force and intermolecular force. “I did not know it was so much fun to learn physics,” said Ravith, class IX student from JGKV school.

The director of the museum said they will expand the museum by opening a new gallery spread across 7,000 sq ft for space technology, which will house models of flight mechanics, rocket launch, history of Indian space programme, etc.