Fun Funnel Science and History - shopping mall funnel, shopping mall, kiosk, kiosk, vending, rivergate mall, fashion square mall, hickory hollow mall, fun funnel, fun funnel, hyperbolic funnel, roll coins, janesville mall, lakes mall, college square, twin

P.O. Box 159072 - Nashville - Tennessee - 37215 - 615-456-4648

Johannes Kepler (1571-1603), a German astronomer and mathematician, discovered certain laws of planetary motion. Kepler's laws are as follows: 1) every planet follows an oval shaped path or orbit around the sun. 2) An imaginary line from the center of the sun to the center of a planet sweeps the same area in a given time.

Sir Isaac Newton later used Kepler's three laws to arrive at the principle of universal gravitation. Newton, one of the most important figures in the history of science, made significant contributions in fields of physics, astronomy and mathematics. He explained the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

There is a plaque on each HyperTek funnel.

Located in two locations on the funnel is a 2 X 5 inch plaque with a brief scientific explanation so people can learn while enjoying the funnel, it reads: “The funnel is a working model of the solar system and displays Kepler’s “laws of planetary motion”. This law applies to any orbiting body, including satellites orbiting the earth. The center hole represents the sun and a coin rolling represents a planet in motion. Gravitational pull is represented by the downward curve of the surface. The steeper the curve, the greater the pull on the coin, as it gets closer to the center. As the coin circles and descends, its energy of position is replaced by energy of motion. This is why a planet orbits at greater speeds as it nears the sun and slows down when it moves further away”.

Located on this same plaque is an enticing question for all participants, which reads:

Which Rolls Faster Quarters, Nickels, Dimes or Pennies?