Archimedean Excogitation

External video
Archimedean Excogitation in operation

Archimedean Excogitation consists of a metal and glass display case framing a system of nine tracks on two main levels.[1][3] The lower level tracks contain billiard balls, which encounter a series of mechanical obstacles as they roll, some of which (such as a drum and xylophone) produce noise.[4][1] The upper level tracks contain larger duckpin bowling balls,[5] which push windmill blades and encounter similar obstacles.[3][4] In total, the sculpture has slightly fewer than 30 moving or sound-producing components,[6] and is 27 feet (8.2 m) tall.[2]

George Rhoads in 2008

Archimedean Excogitation was commissioned for the Museum of Science in Boston, with a budget of $536,100.[6] It was designed by George Rhoads, with assistance from Rock Stream Studios, and was installed in 1987.[2]

In 2015, the sculpture was refurbished and moved from the museum's lower lobby to its atrium.[5]

Archimedean Excogitation has been a popular attraction for museumgoers.[1][4] Metta Winter, writing for The Christian Science Monitor, described it as "a noisy, unpredictable affair observers find hard to walk away from".[1] Hayley Kaufman, writing for The Boston Globe, called it "seemingly unstoppable [and] delightfully complex".[4] It is associated with the kinetic art movement.

The sculpture is used by the museum as an educational tool to help illustrate the principles of physics and mechanical devices.[1] It was featured on a 1999 episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[7]

• Rube Goldberg machine