Art of Play
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Pickagram Puzzle
Get this well made puzzle here:
From Art of Play: BUY NOW: PIckagram Puzzle
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Pickagram: an innovative update on the classic Tangram puzzle- magnets added! With pieces that cling together with a satisfying snap, the 2D puzzle formations become 3D abstract sculptures that can stand on their own. From the mind of designer and architect Gilryong Song, with inspiration from the golden ratio in its proportions and angles.
Undial Sundial
Available here (make sure to get the correct version for your latitude):
From Art of Play: BUY NOW: Undial Sundial
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Undial Sundial: modern design of an ancient timekeeping device where a slanted stick (the gnomon) casts a shadow to indicate the time (this one designed for 30-40 degrees latitude). This novel design has no dial underneath, instead the hours are laser etched into clear acrylic such that the time appears projected within the cast shadow. 10 AM to 3:00 PM of a sunny day in Fresno are shown here in time-lapse. Note the movement of the shadow cast by the sun as the Earth turns underneath during this five hour period. Perfect for a windowsill that gets noonday sun!
The Helicone
This manipulable kinetic art available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW The Helicone
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
The Helicone: an interactive kinetic sculpture designed by @john.edmark and distributed by playableArt. With a bit of practice I finally mastered the transformation in both directions: A snap of the wrist imparts angular momentum to the laser cut wood petals which then rotate until an internal mechanism stops their motion with predetermined spacing- a helix transforms to an abstract pine cone. A second snap of the wrist in the opposite direction returns the helix.
Induced Current Spin-Up
This great little lab stirrer (which I modified to have a transparent top) can be used in many investigations and demonstrations:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Stirrer
Inexpensive concave lenses make great spinning platforms- get one here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Concave Lens Spin Station
Get a PhiTOP in aluminum here (will work nicely in this demo):
From Art of Play: BUY NOW PhiTOP
Copper and brass versions avaiable here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: PhiTOP
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Induced Current Spin-Up: copper is not magnetic, but magnets can interact with conductors. Here spinning magnets in the magnetic stirrer induce electric currents to flow in the solid copper PhiTOP- these currents then create their own magnetic field which opposes the magnets underneath and pushes the PhiTOP to spin. Credit to astrophysicist Kenneth Brecher, the creator of the PhiTOP and this unique means of using Lenz’s Law to spin it up. This top stands up vertically (when spun with sufficient rotational velocity) due to physics similar to that of the tippe-top. The concave lens keeps the top from wandering off of magnetic stirrer
Nova Plexus Interlocking Puzzle
Precision machined and available in brass or stainless steel:
From Eureka Puzzles and Games: BUY NOW: Nova Plexus Puzzle
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Nova Plexus Puzzle: 12 identical brass rods can create 4 interlocking triangles in a perfect symmetry- look carefully and you can see that each rod is in an identical configuration with the 5 others that connect with it. Precision machined notches on the ends of the rods allow them to interlock with elastic tension such that vector sum of the 5 forces on each rod is zero- creating this astonishing geometry as the equilibrium state. Unlock the ends of any two rods and the system instantly disassembles (swipe to view process in slow motion). Invented/designed by artist and computer scientist Geoff Wyvill in 1978, this puzzle has just recently been made available for sale with a limited production run.
Shashibo Geometric Art
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Shashibo Geometric Art
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Shashibo Geometric Art: dissect a cube into 12 equal irregular tetrahedra, connect these pieces symmetrically with hinges, and add 36 magnets to create a device with more that 70 geometrically interesting and aesthetic configurations.
Impossible Bolt
Only available from these aritist/craftsmen:
From twobrassmonkeys: BUY NOW: Impossible Bolt & Nuts
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Impossible Bolt: one nut threads on clockwise as normal- the other threads on counterclockwise on the same bolt! Not impossible- but carefully engineered and machined. This puzzling curiosity was inverted by Scott Eliott and machined in solid brass by puzzle crafters Steve Nicholls and Ali Morris of TwoBrassMonkeys.
CUMOS Cube Kaleidoscope
The CUMOS Cube is a creation of artist Minori Yamazaki. Artwork available for purchase.
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Cosmos in a Box
Visit the artist's page: Minori Yamazaki
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
CUMOS Cube: a variation on the Kaleidoscope by artist @minori.yamazaki that produces a Cosmos in a box. So much wonder hidden within this unassuming white cube where etchings on front surface mirrors produce the repeating geometric patterns. A moving light source (led flashlight) is projected on the cube producing the dazzling animation effect on the multiple reflections.