Available from these fine sources:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Coin Spin Bank
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Spin Bank: a clever spring mechanism launches each coin into rotation along a symmetry axis on to a concave trapping surface. Angular momentum of the spinning quarter keeps it upright even as it bounces upon impact with the platform. Another spin on making saving spare change fun!
Get this fun card case here and support this amazing museum:
From the MoMath Store: BUY NOW: Rollover Card Case
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Impossible Card Case: this business card carrier has a special double hinge that allows it to be opened from either side, and transforms from stripes of white and silver to black and silver. I use this to carry @physicsfun bling diffractive stickers. Sometimes called a magic or flip case, the ribbon construction is similar to the famous Jacob’s Ladder toy I’ve featured and dscribed.
Get this and similar illusion coin banks here:
From eBay: BUY NOW Coin Bank Mirror Illusion
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Mirror Illusion Bank: Symmetry + Reflection = Illusion. Half a symmetric object, a mirror, and a symmetric image combine to make the "Art Bank".
Look for these anumal pens in airports gift shops (can't find them online).
Gliding eyes are still available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Gliding Eye Toy
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Floating Eyes: low center of mass spheres suspended within a liquid filled clear acrylic sphere- the inside”eyeball” maintains its eerie orientation always pointing up as the outer shell rotates. I found these animal pens at airport gift shops and notice the eyes are the same as the spooky gliding eye toys from a few years back. Fun physics of Achimedes principle and constructing a low center of mass.
Get one here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Quantum Sphericon
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Sphericon Frame Roller: beautiful 3D printed version of a developable roller (an object that rolls where every point on the roller’s surface comes into contact with the plane upon which it rolls). The sphericon (based on a square) rolls in a straight line with a peculiar wobble motion and was discovered in 1980 by David Hirsch and is but one of a family of such rollers called polycons.
Get this bookmark/lenticular art here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Total Solar Eclipse Bookmark
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Total Solar Eclipse Bookmark: this book features a wonderful use of lenticular animation to show the stages of a total solar eclipse- full sun, partial, diamond ring, and the solar corona as seen in full totality. With a Full Moon last night we are now just 14 days away from the North American Eclipse!
Get this inexpensive demo here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Pythagorean Theorem Proof Wheel
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Liquid Demo of the Pythagorean Theorem: a proof, in physical form, of one of the most famous equations concerning the sides of any right triangle. The area of a square with side c of the hypotenuse is indeed equal to the sum of the areas of the squares of side a and b. An excellent print and design by Kiegan Brewer of Printed Teacher Crafts.
Get this affordable sculpture here:
From Mr.Sci Science Factory: BUY NOW: KInetic Magnetic Sculpture
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Magnetic Hoops Suspension Sculpture 2.0: Steel circles are suspended by a magnet (black disk) and held down to the base by a thin thread. The tops of the steel hoops, being ferromagnetic, become a north pole in the presence of the south pole end of the black magnet, so they are attracted to the black magnet, but repel each other. Produced by Funtime Gifts Europe Ltd. this is a new and affordable version of a vintage sculpture made by Rathcon Inc. in 1970.
Get a set of gliding eyes here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Gliding Eyes
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Centripetal Eyes: glider eyeballs have weighted (low center of mass) spheres suspended within a liquid filled clear acrylic sphere, and the inside ”eyeball” maintains its eerie orientation always pointing up as the outer shell rotates— unless: the gliders are placed in circular motion which then gives them an acceleration component towards the center of the circle. Note- the faster the eyes roll around the bowl the more they are tilted towards the center. Shown in 240 fps slow motion.
Get some polarizing filter sheets here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Polarizing Sheets
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
See this short introduction to linear polarizing filters on Hyperphysics, and many more details on polarization from Wikipedia.
Three Polarizing Sheets: quantum mechanical behavior with light polarization. Two linear polarizing sheets oriented at 90 degrees blocks all light- if a third sheet is placed between, oriented at 45 degrees, an eighth of the original light then gets through! A classic example of the quantum mechanical phenomenon of superposition of states as it pertains to the polarization orientation of photons and probability of transmission.
Get one here!
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Spinnobi Spinner
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Spinnobi: a spinner with bounce! With springs mounted along the axis on both sides of the dense rotating silicone disk, this spinner demonstrates gyroscopic stability- keeping its orientation as it falls and bounces. Conservation of angular momentum on display with this improved take on the spinner.
Get this math toy here: Toysmith Sproing Ball
Learn more about this shape: Icosododecahedron
Sproing Ball Icosododecahedron: this bouncy ball contains some fun mathematical symmetries. Just six interlocking gear shaped rings create 12 pentagonal faces (shown here in sequence) along with 20 triangular faces. Each “gear ring” also forms an equatorial great circle, producing the underlying polyhedral form of this toy, an icosododecahedron.
Get this charming and inexpensive balance toy here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Balance Sculpture
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Balance Twirl Fun: two stick figures twirl and dip in this low center of mass kinetic art sculpture (no magnets!). These balance toys have the curious motion of a 3D physical pendulum- a complex motion which can be broken down into oscillations along two dimensions and rotation about the point of contact. The metal stick figures (plus counterweights and bar structure) is designed such that its center of mass is few centimeters below the contact point when at rest. When the sculpture is tipped the center of mass swings under the pivot point in this stable equilibrium condition- no magnets needed to create this physics magic.
Geometry as art and play-- get this affordable puzzle here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Symmetric Sticks Puzzle
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Symmetric Sticks Puzzle: 30 identical pieces, each with two notches as shown, can create 12 interlocking pentagons in a perfect symmetry- look carefully and you can see that each rod is in an identical configuration with the 4 others that connect with it. Precision notches on the rods allow them to interlock with elastic tension such that vector sum of the 4 forces sum to zero in this tensegrity type equilibrium. The dodecahedron, with its 30 edges and 12 sides, is the basis of this puzzle sculpture.
Available in four colors and designs:
BUY NOW: Glass Water Tops
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Glass Hydro-Top: under centripetal acceleration a liquid will flow to create a cylindrical surface parallel to the axis of rotation. This blown glass dreidel contains a small amount of colored water that when spun resembles a blue gemstone banded around the rim. A unique design with fun physics!
Get this kinetic object here:
From ETSY: BUY NOW: Vortex Pyramid Passthrough Fidget
or use these files to print it uourself:
From Printables: Download Now: Pyramid Passthrough Fidget
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Vortex Pyramid Fidget: a four sided pyramid is dissected by a spiral cut in the shape of an eight petal flower (as seen from the bottom) in this math inspired kinetic toy. The interesting behavior stems from the connection between translational motion and rotational motion and the precision manufacturing allowed by the 3D printing process. An amazing creation by RJ Design and expertly printed by my friend Jason Veatch.
Get similar bracelets here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: UV Color Change Bracelets
You may also want an awesome UV flashlight like this one:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: High Power UV Light
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Check out this: Photochromic Frisbee
UV Color Changing Beads: the photochromic pigment molecules in the white beads actually change shape when struck by UV light, and the new shape alters their absorption properties such that they reflect brilliant colors. The color is temporary- when removed from UV exposure, room temperature thermal energy bumps the molecules back into their original configuration, and the color fades back to white in a few minutes. Here a UV flashlight reveals that each bracelet transforms to a different color.