The ‘Life-Size Mousetrap’ is an ambitious project by Mark Perez who built it so that his kids could visualize Newtonian physics.
The 16-piece Rube Goldberg structure sits on a 6,500-square-foot board game and weighs 50,000 pounds, and has toured festivals, science centers and museums around the United States since its completion in 2005. It recently exhibited at the Maker Faire festival last month in Queens, New York.
Perez believes real-life devices like this help children and adults alike to better understand the scientific principles that govern the world.
The project has been self-funded for five years and Perez is seeking grants to hire more artists and teachers for his team.
View some photos of the mousetrap below and contact Perez about donating to the project.
[via Inhabitat, images via Lifesized Mousetrap]