All physicsfun toys

Vintage Wilesco Steam Engine

Available from these sellers: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Wilesco Model Steam Engines 

Click this link for the: small candle engine

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Wikipedia has a very nice description of the history and inner workings of steam engines 

Vintage Wilesco Steam Engine: a working model reciprocating piston steam engine complete with boiler, flywheel, governor, and whistle. The invention that powered the industrial revolution on a desktop! My father bought this model D16 in 1970- with just a little cleaning and oiling it fired right up. Wilesco has been producing model steam engines since 1960 and still manufactures and sells the D16.

Balance Drinking Vessel

Get a set here: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Balance Cups

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Balance Drinking Vessel: physics meets design in this stainless steel cup- when empty the cup tilts to one side, but when full it stands straight. The walls of this spherical vessel are hollow, asymmetric, and weighted, designed with the center of mass displaced from the symmetry axis such that the empty cup rests in stable equilibrium at a 23 degree tilt. The addition of mass (pouring a drink) within the offset interior of the cup places the center of mass (cup + contents) onto the symmetry axis allowing an upright stable equilibrium. Designed by Katja Hoeltermann for Carl Mertens design of Solingen Germany. 

Bottle, Hoop, and Nail Trick

The hoop used is just the inner circle of an embroidery hoop. Get one for a couple dollars here: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Wooden Hoop 

The science writer Martin Gardner has published many books of physics tricks and simple but amazing science experiments like the one in this video. Highly recommended. 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Martin Gardner's Science Magic: Tricks and Puzzles 

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Bottle, Hoop, and Nail Trick: with some practice, a snap of the wrist removes the hoop and the nail falls straight into the bottle. Newton's 1st Law as seen in slow motion- a mass at rest tends to stay at rest. (Best to watch with sound/audio) Balancing the nail on the hoop ensures the nail is directly over the top of the bottle. The hoop is removed so quickly that it does not interact significantly with the sufficiently massive nail, and thus the nail remains over the mouth of the bottle so that gravity pulls it in. G4G Week repost- a favorite from Martin Gardner’s collections of physics tricks. 


Ring Catch Chain Trick

Get a set here: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Ring and Chain Set 

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The physics of this trick in great detail with more slow motion: Ring Falling into a Chain: No Magic — Just Physics 

Ring Catch Chain Trick: a solid ring will be caught by a loop of chain if it tumbles during its fall. By Newton's Third law, when the ring twists into and hits the chain, the impact transfers momentum to the end of the chain, which rises up and over the ring- seen here in 480 fps slow motion. 

Faraday Train

The wire used for the Faraday Train has to be bare- so make sure it does not have any kind of clear coating on it. The solid grounding wire sold at hardware stores works great. 

Here is a nice description of the Faraday Train and the physics of its propulsion. 

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Faraday Train: two magnets, one battery, and a coil of bare copper wire are the simple essence of this self propelled craft. The magnets conduct electricity, thus when put in contact with the coil current will flow creating a solenoidal magnetic field in the vicinity of the battery, which in turn pushes on the magnets at each end of the battery moving the craft along. The spherical neodymium magnets used allows the craft to slide along the coil with minimal friction. 


Foucault Oscillator

Available from this famous science supplier in Japan: 
From Narika: Foucault Spring Pendulum 

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Wikipedia has a nice description of the physics and applications of the Foucault Pendulumincluding this spring version. 

Foucault Oscillator: like a swinging pendulum, the motion of a mass on the end of a straight wire spring is constrained to a plane. The container is moved around yet the orientation of the oscillating mass points in the same direction. Similar to the physics behind the famous Foucault Pendulum that keeps its orientation as the Earth moves underneath. 

Ambiguous Object Illusion

These type of object were invented by mathematician Kokichi Sugihara, and you can buy his books here: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Ambiguous Objects by Kokichi Sugihara 

Similar objects available here- from Etsy: BUY NOW:  Ambiguous Objects

From Amazon (Japan): BUY NOW set of four ambiguous objects with booklet 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

This kit contains four white plastic illusion objects (including the arrow) and a booklet. I used the translate feature in the Chrome browser to place my order and it shipped to California in three days. 

The math and physics are described here in this technical journal article by Prof. Sugihara. 

Ambiguous Object Illusion: an incredible new design by Kokichi Sugihara of Meiji University in Japan, the inventor of this illusion and art form. A clever combination of reflection, perspective, and viewing angle produce this striking illusion. My vote for best gift from the G4G13 exchange this year. 


Skye Blue Cafe Wall Illusion

See more illusion art from Victoria Skye here: 
From victoriaskye.com: Illusion and Impossible Objects 

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Skye Blue Café Wall Illusion: the horizontal blue lines appear to be sloped but they are actually parallel, as verified by sighting a straight line from the edge of the image. This visual illusion is related to the level of contrast between sharp boundaries, and if the boundaries are blurred (here with a plate of frosted glass) the illusion is broken and the lines appear parallel. Note that even after we verify the lines are parallel, our perception still misleads- a reminder that we need science to transcend the limits of our senses and cognition. This award winning illusion was created by artist Victoria Skye and is featured here with permission. @vicskye

Double Pendulum Chaos

Get a similar, and very well made, chaotic pendulum here:

From Etsy: BUY NOW Double Chaotic Pendulum 

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Double Pendulum: chaotic motion from a simple assembly of two physical pendulums (one attached to the end of the other) with the energy of the system moving frenetically back and forth between the potential energy of gravity to the kinetic energy of motion. An LED light attached to the end of the pendulum allows for a good visualization of the chaotic motion- characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, how tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. 

Anti-Counterfeit Physics

Learn more about this series of banknotes and the interesting security features on Wikipedia: Frontier Series 
If you don't live in Canada, you can get these bills on eBay: 
From Etsy: Canada $5 Polymer Bank Note

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Anti-Counterfeit Physics: Canadian banknotes integrate a number of security devices including foil rainbow holograms and far field holograms. The bill is not paper but instead a thin film polymer, and some transparent windows are built in- including one shaped like a maple leaf. If a laser is directed through the leaf window the denomination of the note (in this case $5) can be projected onto a wall. Looking through the leaf window at a point of bright light also reveals the holographic image. This note is from the Frontier Series released in 2011. 


The Civilized Glass

Another science toy from Taiwan! Produced by the Mr. Sci Science Toy Factory 
From Mr. Sci Science Toy Factory: Buy Now Civilized Glass 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Learn more about the Pythagorean Cup on Wikipedia 

The Civilized Glass: a most elegant version of the famous Pythagorean cup. Functions as a normal glass, but if the glass is filled above the top of the central column a siphoning effect is triggered and all the contents in the glass drains out the bottom through the hollow stem. With this glass moderation is key! This well made glass design by @mrscisciencefactory allows one to see the mechanism of the siphon tube usually hidden in ceramics 

Pop Pop Boat

Get one here: 
From Educational Innovations: BUY NOW Pop-Pop Boat 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Pop-Pop Boats 

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Wikipedia has the details on the physics and history of this little steamboat toy 

Pop-Pop Boat: birthday candle powered, super simple steam engine named after the sound it makes when operating. The engine is just a metal box, heated by the candle, with two pipes coming out of it. Steam builds up pushing water out with an explosive pop- which then creates a vacuum sucking more water in to repeat the process. Patented in 1915 these were very popular in the 1940's.

Polarized Light Cell Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscopes made by artist Ron Kuhns are sometimes available on eBay. 

Fine art kaleidoscopes avaibable here:

From Etsy: BUY NOW: Fine Art Kaleidoscopes

Here is an inexpensive toy kaleidoscope that uses polarization for create the colors: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Polarized Kaleidoscope Kit 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Polarized Light Cell Kaleidoscope: the amazing colors you see from the object cell of this two mirror kaleidoscope are generated by manipulating the polarization of light- the items in the cell are either pieces of polarizing filter or clear and transparent pieces of mica and plastics that have the property of optical rotation. These properties allow for an incredible range of color formation as the pieces shift and overlap when the kaleidoscope is turned. One of 100 made by kaleidoscope artist Ron Kuhns. 


Wild Eyes Holographic Glasses

Made by American Paper Optics Inc. All versions of these holographic glasses can be found here: 
from Amazon: BUY NOW Wild Eyes 3D Glasses 

Here is a good description of the physics and principles of operation of these far-field holograms by the manufacturer HoloSpex, Inc. 


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Wild Eyes Holographic Glasses: put on these goggles and on top of every point-source of light will appear an animated holographic image of sharks swimming. (Here I used a Maglite flashlight with the cap removed.) The "lenses" in these glasses are actually transmission holograms with the image located at the farthest point in the depth of field. In this version there are three holographic images in a trifocal glasses arrangement- tilting one's head brings the animation to life! Holographic glasses can also be used to project an image using the beam of a laser- the very same technology used to make the "projection caps" on inexpensive laser pointers. Made by American Paper Optics LLC.

 

Right Pointing Arrow

Available here: 
From Amazon (Japan): BUY NOW set of four ambiguous objects with booklet 
This kit contains four white plastic illusion objects (including the arrow) and a booklet. I used the translate feature in the Chrome browser to place my order and it shipped to California in three days. 

These type of object were invented by mathematician Kokichi Sugihara, and you can buy his books here: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Ambiguous Objects by Kokichi Sugihara 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Some 3D prints are available from many makers here: 
From Shapeways: BUY NOW Ambiguous Objects

Right Pointing Arrow: spin this arrow 180 degrees and it still points to the right- only in a mirror will it point left (and only to the left). Another incredible ambiguous object illusion by mathematician Kokichi Sugihara of Meiji University in Japan, the inventor of this illusion and art form. A clever combination of reflection, perspective, and viewing angle produce this striking illusion.