Determinism and Causality

Exhibition Design

The content of ths course is the development of a communication system, which can impart knowledge through interaction with the user. The result is a prototype exhibit in original size.
In cooperation with the Deutsches Museum in Munich, tangible exhibits for the field of physics are to be created which explain the physical basis to visitors of all ages in a vivid way and enable them to experience them. Our aim was to inspire all kinds of visitors, beginners and experts alike, to become enthusiastic about physics without neglecting the scientific aspect. The project was developed interdisciplinarily with students from the field of communication design.

Research

In order to better understand the context, the Deutsches Museum was visited.We analysed various exhibits as to their user-friendliness and examined the user behaviour of the visitors. Soon we decided to deal with the principle of causality. We reconstructed several experiments and finally decided to explain the three stages of causality with the help of a magnetic pendulum and five magnets.

Strongly Causal: The outcome equals the input. e.g: If a ball is thrown with exactly the same force at the same angle, it will always land on the same spot.

Stably Causal: Completely identical initial conditions are difficult to reproduce in practice, but the result is still easily comprehensible.

Deterministic chaos: The same causes lead to completely different results since minimal factors can strongly influence the final result.

Process & Concept

A magnetic pendulum hanging from the ceiling enables the user to let it swing from all sides. Through a beamer above a table the user can interact with the projection and freely choose their preferred scenario. Information and instructions are displayed around the table. There is a different colour for each scenario. When a visitor chooses a scenario certain magnets within the table are switched on or off. These magnets influence the magnetic pendulum. Through motion detection the path of the pendulum is projected on the table.

Determinism and Causality

Exhibition Design

Research

Strongly Causal: The outcome equals the input. e.g: If a ball is thrown with exactly the same force at the same angle, it will always land on the same spot.

Stably Causal: Completely identical initial conditions are difficult to reproduce in practice, but the result is still easily comprehensible.

Deterministic chaos: The same causes lead to completely different results since minimal factors can strongly influence the final result.

Process & Concept

Concept video for strongly causal.

Concept video for stably causal.

Concept video for deterministic chaos.

Team

Supervisor

Date