The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Wednesday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Animal Discovery Zone 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
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We partner with school districts to support science learning. We offer district-wide elementary, middle, and high school programs, either virtually or in-person.
We collaborate with a range of partners to innovate in science education. Together, we go further.
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Past Exhibit
You don't have to be a pro to know that math and science can help improve your game. Experiment with force, angles, and trajectory to get the highest scores you can with classic games such as minigolf and basketball.
This is a past exhibit.
Want to improve your score? Try our interactive exhibits on the math and science behind force, trajectory, and angle of incidence. Then apply the principles you learn here in the next game you play. Maximize your score while you have maximum fun!
Ramps and RollersThink like an engineer: create pathways and vertical drops using ramps, and then test your design using small balls and the force of gravity.
ForceExplore the concept of force when you play this game by trying to get the ball into each hole that lights up. The farther back you pull the spring before releasing it, the more force the spring will apply to the ball. How much force does it take to get the ball into each hole?
TrajectoryExplore the concept of trajectory when you play this game by trying to shoot the ball into each hole that lights up. The angle you use to launch the ball is related to the distance the ball travels. The path that the ball travels is called its trajectory.
BasketballUse what you learn about trajectory and force to help you shoot the ball into the basket to improve your score!
Putt ZonePlay on a plain course, or add obstacles to challenge yourself in a round of minigolf in our Putt Zone.
Notice how the angle of incidence is related to the angle of reflection to help you aim the ball into the target.
Imagine a line perpendicular to where your golf ball strikes the wall. What do you notice about the angle between that line and the path of the ball before it hits the wall, and the angle between that line and the path of the ball after it hits the wall?
Because the ball and floor are not perfectly smooth surfaces in this game, the angle of incidence might not be exactly the same as the angle of reflection, but they will probably be close!
RicochetDoes a cushion of air affect the angle of incidence and angle of reflection? What do you notice as you slide different shapes across our version of an air hockey table?
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