MOTnews 37 (11/10/2002)

THE FLEMISH SCIENCE WEEK: MOT PARTICIPATES

Every two years, the Science department of the Flemish Community, in co-operation with Technopolis since 2001, organises a "Science Week" to promote scientific activities for children and teenagers.

During the Flemish Science Week, from 21 to 27 October, the whole Liermolen section of the Museum will be transformed into an exciting exploration area where clever young Sherlocks (on school outings or with their parents or grand-parents) can try to decipher the secrets of bread-making. The reason for all of this is the fact that a mysterious old trunk has been found with letters written by a farmer, baker and miller dating back at least one hundred years. It's a strange story of how the three quarrelled over a game of cards. But what happened exactly? Was someone cheating? And if so, who? The three took the secret to their grave and we hope that the Science Week detectives can find out what really happened.

By visiting the exhibition called "Bread... quite a slice!" and participating in the various activities, they will try to solve the mystery surrounding bread.

If you're interested and want to register for the mystery tour, send an e-mail to info@mot.be or phone 02/270.81.11 and ask for Petra Vandermeiren.

TRUE OR FALSE

Your grandmother's or grandfather's hat was made of rabbit hair.

ANSWER TO TRUE OR FALSE IN MOT NEWS 36 (26/07/2002)

The introduction of a standard time, i.e. the fact that it is the same time everywhere within a particular time zone, was brought about by the railway companies.

TRUE

Up until the middle of the 19th century, the so-called local (sun) time was the only indication of time. Considerable time differences often existed between cities and regions and this of course created quite a lot of problems when timetables had to be drawn up for trains. The development and expansion of the railway network was the reason why the different local times were standardised. The communal authorities were told to set the church and the public clocks to the time indicated on the clock at the nearest railway station. Later, in 1892, the introduction of a single standard time for the whole country was approved by the Belgian parliament.

From then on, the clocks in all Belgian stations were set to the time given by the observatory in Ukkel to the station master of the Brussels North station.

SAY WHAT?

In this MOT-news item we try to explain proverbs and sayings that have their roots in our technical history. Similar proverbs are found in different languages, but each language has it's own typical sayings. Therefore we do not translate this item in English.

KIDS News: something to tell the kids this evening

School started a few weeks ago and you leave for school everyday with a full pencil case and that indispensable eraser. Haven't you ever wondered how that little eraser at the end of your pencil actually works?

We'd like to explain just that.

An eraser works because of friction. When you rub two objects over each other, friction is the power that ensures that the movement of the one surface is reduced by the other surface. If the surface of both objects is very smooth, there is hardly any friction at all and they glide over each other.

If the surfaces are very rough, for example like sandpaper, then the friction is much higher and it's more difficult to rub the objects over each other.

When you rub an eraser on paper, the friction between its surface and the paper simply removes the top layer of the paper and this in turn makes the pencil marking disappear.

And did you know that you wouldn't be able to walk or run if there weren't any friction? The friction between your shoes and the ground makes sure your feet don't slip.