Eddy by MetMo
Get this precision made device here:
From MetMo: BUY NOW: Eddy Copper Magnet Fidget
Eddy: an everyday carry fidget made of high purity copper and a powerful neodymium magnetic sphere which glides mysteriously from end to end. The moving magnetic field from the falling magnet produces electric currents in the copper- these “eddy” currents then produce magnetic fields that oppose the motion of the moving field, a specific application of Faraday’s law of induction called Lenz’s Law. A fun new physics toy from the team at MetMo @metmo.eng
Magnaprobe and Magnetic Veiwing Film
Get this inexpensive tool here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Magnetic Field Probe
The magnetic viewing film can be purchased here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Color Magnetic Viewing Film
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Magnaprobe: visualizing the invisible- a small bar magnet on a gimbal mount demonstrates magnetic field direction for points in space around a magnetized object. Red indicates the north pole and blue the south pole of the Magnaprobe dipole- the red end is attracted to any other magnet’s south pole like a 3D compass. Magnetic viewing film reveals a cross section of the magnetic field where colors correspond to intensity, but can’t show the direction of the field like the magnaprobe device can. Together these devices give us insights about the existence of magnetic fields that our five senses cannot detect.
Flux Vision
Available as a set, or individually (all come with the super powerful sphere magnet) here:
From feelflux.com: BUY NOW: Flux Vision
See my other posts on the Feel Flux devices
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Flux Vision: original (Feel Flux) and the new (Flux Vision) with a “skin” of color magnetic viewing film, the skill toy that uses high quality copper to manipulate a very strong neodymium magnet ball. The moving magnetic field from the falling magnet produces electric currents in the copper- these currents then produce magnetic fields that oppose the motion of the moving field, a specific application of Faraday’s law of induction called Lenz’s Law. The magnetic field penetrates the copper tube and its orientation and strength can clearly be seen as the ball moves through the Flux Vision- amazing!
Tesla Valve Demonstrator
Get one here:
From NikolaToy: BUY NOW: Tesla Valve Demonstrator
Tesla Valve Passive Fluid Diodicity Demonstrator: a 1920 invention by the great Nikola Tesla, his “valve” limits fluid velocity in one direction more than the other. With micro-beads simulating the fluid, this demonstration has two identical such valves in opposite orientations and indeed the flow in one is about twice as fast as the other. Slow motion reveals the flow is more turbulent for one path than the other.
Magnetic Field Demonstrator
Get this simple but statisfying device here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Magnetic Field Demonstrator
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Magnetic Field Demonstrator: visualizing the invisible with an array of encapsulated iron wire segments reveals the field of this magnet and its orientation in the space around it. The small ferromagnetic rods become temporary magnets in the presence of the field, and each responds by aligning their north and south poles along the field direction. A simple tool for revealing the invisible components of our universe.
Mechanical Timer
Get this amazing device here:
From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Mechanical Hourglass Device
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Five Minute Mechanical Timer: powered by gravity the potential energy of the descending weighted mechanism is transferred to the kinetic energy of the drive train gears and balance wheel pendulum (and associated balance spring). This “mechanical hourglass” has some key features of any mechanical clock, most important for the regulation of movement is the escapement mechanism- the component with two prongs that only allows the escapement wheel to move forward one tooth per swing cycle of the balance wheel, and producing the characteristic “tick-tock” sound as the mechanism slowly descends down the sawtooth vertical spur rack. Thanks to @enginediy for this amazing addition to my collection.
Plasma Beads Generator
Get this affordable device here:
From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Palsma Ring Generator
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Plasma Bead Generator: an intricate mix of high intensity/high frequency electric and magnetic fields produce a ring of glowing plasma beads within a glass sphere containing the noble gas krypton at low pressure. The adjustment allows exploration of different intensities of the magnetic field and finding the sweet spot that forms a parade of glowing orbs.
Centripetal Spinning Wine Glass
Get this amazing wine glass here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Spinning Wine Glass
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Centripetal Stemmed Wine Glass: pair your favorite wine with some physics! Engineered with precise symmetry and quality bearings in the base, this glass will spin for minutes, providing a means of aeration that is amazing to see- and for small pours your wine can defy gravity! With a flick of the hand the surface of your wine will form into a vertical open cylinder that clings to the spinning glass.
Helixcore Press-to-Spin Fidget
Get a nicely printed Helixcore here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Helixcore Press-to-Spin Fidiget
or print one yourself:
From MakersWorld: Helixcore Fidget
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Helixcore Press-to-Spin Squishy Ball: when compressed end to end a hidden central helical rod provides a path to set the shell into rotational motion while a rubber band snaps it back into a ball shape which then coasts on skateboard bearings. Stability from conservation of angular momentum on display with this improved take on the spinner.
Dragon Automaton
Get this amazing dragon here:
From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Dragon Automaton Kinetic Scuplture
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Dragon Automaton: this fantastical winged beast is set into flight via mechanical translation from rotational motion to the syncopated undulating motion of the creature’s body and wing segments, each part moving at different rate and amplitude to create the overall complex and fluid movement. I like how most of the drive mechanism is visible on this piece. The sculpture’s motor is powered by a USB rechargeable battery.
Orbifact Fidget
Get the 3D print files here:
From Thangs: Download NOW: Orbifact Fidget Print
Orbifact Fidget: a clever gear linkage design allows this octahedron to turn inside out so to speak. Composed from blue and gold silk filament this geometric object is ornamented like an Fabergé egg. Fascinating geometry to explore in this fun 3D print creation of maker and designer extraordinaire @ruven_bals - special thanks to Ruven for printing this for my collection!
Motorized Magic Portal Illusion
Get one here: Motorized Portal Illusion
Motorized Magic Portal Illusion: a new twist on a favorite illusion- with four separately moving colorful strands that seem to pass in and out of a 4th dimension. The mechanical principle employed is similar to that of the famous barbershop pole illusion but with multiple ribbons rotating at different rates. This motorized version is USB rechargeable and based on the amazing 3D print creation by Ada Cohen.
Magic Portal Illusion
Get one, expertly printed and assembled, here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Magic Portal Illusion Desk Toy
Or print it yourself: 3D Print Files: Magic Portal Desk Toy
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Magic Portal Illusion: this astonishing design utilizes the famous barber pole illusion to make it appear as though these colorful strands are passing in and out of a 4th dimension. The mechanical principle employed is similar to that of a lead screw and slider type actuator, except here translating the slider up and down rotates the helical strands at just the right rate to produce the illusion. An amazing 3D print creation of Ada Cohen, printed and assembled by Alex L. Kling.
Glowing Noble Gas Collection
Get this set (and powerful tesla coil base) here:
From engineDIY: BUY NOW: Glowing Noble Gas Cubes and Base
The base can be used on any gas tubes or other plasma art- well made and powerful.
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Glowing Noble Gas Collection: five cubical glass containers contain high purity samples of the noble gasses- He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. A special platform contains a coil and circuit that creates a high frequency/high voltage electric field designed to transmit energy through the glass to excite the gases into glow discharge revealing the unique color of each gas, which is actually due to a mix of photon frequencies emitted from electron energy transitions specific to each element- the basis of spectroscopy.
Mini Galton Board
Get this amazing Galton Board probabutly demonstrator here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Galton Board (comes with an wonderful fact filled booklet).
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Mini Galton Board: 4280 steel balls (and one gold bead) fall through 14 levels of branching paths and always end up matching a bell curve distribution. Another elegant design by Philip Poissant, this device is a modern version of the Galton Board, invented by Sir Francis Galton(1894) to demonstrate the Central Limit Theorem and show how random processes gather around the mean. Each ball has a 50/50 chance of going left or right at each branch such that the balls are distributed at the bottom by the mathematical binomial distribution. In addition the number of balls in each bin can be predicted by Pascal’s triangle, where the number on each hexagonal branch point represents the number of possible paths to reach that point from the top. See if your eyes can follow the path of the gold bead (representing a single random path) in the 240fps slow motion segment of the video. Made and distributed by Four Pines Publishing Inc. and IFA.com the device can also illustrate fluctuations in market earnings.
Kinetic Traced Hyperboloid
This hard to find sculpture is currently unavailable, but here is clock version:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Kinetic Hyperboloid Clock
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Hyperbolic Hole Kit
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Kinetic Traced Hyperboloid: a straight rod glides through a symmetric pair of curved holes in this kinetic sculpture based on the hyperboloid, the 3D ruled surface traced by an offset revolved straight line. This version is made of anodized aluminum and rotates via gearing and a motor powered by two AA batteries in the base.
Balance Mobile
Get a similar sculpture here: Desk Dynamic Art
Balance Mobile: four balanced rods with weighted ends connected in equilibrium under gravity, with balance points engineered such that the rods are horizontal and parallel to each other. The strings are slightly elastic allowing the rods to rotate back and forth after a slight push by hand, or interacting with a slight breeze.
MetMo Singularity Spolling Disk
Get these new precision engineered disk designs here:
From MetMo: Order NOW: Sigularity Disks
Watch Steve's video here: YouTube: Singularity Disc
MetMo Singularity: an innovation on the classic Euler’s Disk physics toy- a design that distributes mass to optimize longest run times including a base with an optimally smooth glass surface. This video compares a standard coin shaped disk with the optimized frustum design, and indeed the new shape extends the spol time significantly! This improved physics toy comes from the collaboration of the @metmo.eng team and @stevemouldscience and I’m delighted to add it to my collection- a fun new take on the “spolling” coin phenomenon, a motion that combines spinning and rolling.