Motion Lab

Turn your sports and dance moves into an experiment and use science to improve your performance!

In Motion Lab, you’ll learn by doing. This exhibit allows you to perform various sports-related activities while being recorded on a high-speed camera at about 200-250 frames per second. The goal is to playback your action and learn how you can improve your movement with science. Observe your motions, compare results to a professional athlete, and discover new methods.

The study begins with you! Motion Lab becomes your field, court, track, or gym.

Step 1

Enter the practice cage, one at a time, and choose an activity. Activities include dancing, jumping rope, shooting a basketball, throwing a baseball, and much more. Or use your imagination and make up your own movement! Pick up the sports equipment you need from the bin and practice.

Step 2

Enter the recording area and press the button to trigger the camera. Follow the voice and lights countdown to begin the activity and the high-speed camera will record your motion. Return all borrowed equipment and exit to the playback stations.

Step 3

Watch your movement unfold on the playback stations. You can also compare your action to a professional athlete. You may then scrub through each video independently, play each video separately, or play both videos at the same time.

Practice makes perfect! Try your actions again after observing and comparing results.

The exhibit was designed and fabricated by the Science Museum of Minnesota.