Natural images are juxtaposed to encourage considerations of natural variance and interrelationships of natural environments. Visitors are surprised with visual perceptions when they encounter Discovery's collection of Optical Illusions and Perceptions . A close examination of the pictures, puzzles, and sculptures that play tricks on viewers sight lets visitors in on some of the secrets of how the mind interprets objects visually. After seeing the Pythagorean Puzzler , understanding the Pythagorean Theorem is a cinch. The puzzle physically represents the elements of Pythagorean s Theorem.
Visitors identify parts of a triangle such as the hypotenuse and right angle.
Then they can move the right triangle puzzle pieces into different formations to solve how the theorem works. For students that have yet to study geometry, the Pythagorean Puzzler simply introduces the concept of positive and negative space. The Balancing Fisherman 's ability to stay upright amazes visitors. While watching the sculpture teeter and totter, visitors discover the basic principles of balance where his base of support is, and that his balance point is his exact middle or center of mass. This simple machine works as a one person see-saw.