Sci-Bono is the Science and Technology Learning Centre situated inside the old Power Station in the heart of Johannesburg.
This exhibit was commissioned to create an interactive learning tool explaining Continental Drift. This shows the fabrication and assembly of the complex mechanism which is ‘invisible’. Dimensions of exhibit: 1200 x 600 x 150
All the continents existed as a single continent at one time called Pangaea. This model demonstrated how they moved apart as the mid ocean rifts (volcanoes) pushed them away from each other.
The Pangaea model has a lot of components that had to be assembled.
Here we can see the pulleys and belts, hidden below, which actuate the movements of the continents. The learner turns a drive-wheel which is connected to the continents via belts and pulleys and causes them to move, imitating Continental Drift.
This shows the slots which govern the distance and arc of travel. Everything is carefully calculated to ensure there are no collision of the continents.
The visible part of the exhibit.
There are no visible slots or grooves to determine the direction of movement. There are no visible wires or chains to cause the continents to move. They are held in position by rare earth magnets which are attached to the invisible ‘trolley’ (below the surface) which runs in the slot and connected with belts and pulleys to the drive-wheel.