How will we power our futures? How can we balance our ever-growing energy needs with environmental impacts? Energy Quest examines the five major sources of Earth’s energy in search of the answers.

Learn how we explore and harness these energy sources at activity-filled, hands-on stations. Join the exploration and experiment as a geologist, oceanographer, chemical and nuclear engineer, and more.

Energy Quest’s five energy themes are:

  • Surface (wind, solar, hydro)
  • Bio-Stored (oil, coal, natural gas, bio-mass)
  • Nuclear (fission, fusion)
  • Ocean (waves, tidal, ocean-thermal)
  • Geo-Thermal (hydro-thermal, hot dry rock, magma)

Exhibition Highlights

Timing is everything at the Tidal Station. Experiment with rising and falling tides as you open and close valves to release a gush of water collected in a reservoir through a turbine. As the wheel spins, check out the meter and observe how much power is generated.

At the Biofuel Station, you’ll learn about hydrocarbons as you build and take apart three-dimensional molecular models.

Search for oil at the Oil Drilling Station. If you want to hit a gusher, you’ll have to study the rock formations below ground and figure out the best place to drill.

See how plasma–the superheated ionized gas found on the sun– is shaped as it flows through a vacuum chamber at the Plasma Station. You’ll discover that plasma is not only important for nuclear fusion research, it’s also found in some common items like fluorescent lights and neon signs. Created by the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab.

Young Learners

Young visitors will be blown away at the Wind Station when they use air tubes to make a set of wind turbines spin and see what happens when solar panels are covered by handheld “shadows.”

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For Educators - Discovery Challenge!

Design a "Green" School! – Grades 3-5

Every day we use it, waste it, and are on a quest to conserve it. Energy comes in many forms. By understanding how these forms are generated, we can begin to develop ways to create greener living. In this Discovery Challenge based on our Energy Quest exhibition, students will explore the many kinds of energy and design a school using cleaner energy. The future of our environment depends on creatively using renewable resources!

Our Sponsors

Energy Quest is made possible by the generosity of the ExxonMobil Corporation.