Plasma Beads Generator
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From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Palsma Ring Generator
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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.
Anamorphic MIrror Art
This hard to find kit available here:
From puntovernal.co.uk: BUY NOw: 24 anamorphic images with cylinder and cone mirror
Books with similar images (and roll-up mirroor) available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Mirror Anamorphosis Books
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Conical Mirror Anamorphosis: a greatly distorted anamorphic image is restored through reflection off of a cone shaped mirror placed in its center. The shape of the mirror allows the redirection of light rays to perform a mathematical operation to restore the shape of the elk in the image. From a kit that features reproductions from the 17th century.
Glow Discharge Wand
Get plasma glow devices (and powerful tesla coil base) here:
From engineDIY: BUY NOW: Induction Coil Driver Base Unit
"Plasma Scepter" and plasma glassware available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Glass for Glow Plasma
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Glow Discharge Wand: colorful and intricate light from a blown glass scepter and a shot glass filled with neon and other gasses. 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- energy transmission similar to a wireless charger base but at much higher voltage and frequency.
Mechanical Timer
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From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Mechanical Hourglass Device
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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.
Mini Acoustic Levitator
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From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Mini Acoustic Levitator
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Mini Acoustic Levitator: small pieces of styrofoam become trapped between areas of higher pressure induced by high frequency sound waves. Ultrasonic transducers placed at the top and bottom are basically speakers that emit sound waves at a frequency of 43,000 Hz, which corresponds to a wavelength of 8mm for dry air. If the transducers are positioned just right standing waves are produce with nodes of low pressure at half wavelength intervals- and low mass objects like these foam pellets will be suspended against gravity when placed near one of these nodes. Here we see a stack of three pellets with a spacing of about 4mm which is the expected distribution of the nodes. To place the pellets into the sound stream without disrupting the standing waves this device comes with a small screen with a handle which allows the sound waves to flow through the holes in the mesh and trap piece of foam. Although the device uses sound it appears silent as the frequency used is way above that which humans can hear (20Hz to 20kHz).
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.
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
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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!
Lenticular Kinetic Art of Jen Stark
Get these amazing lenticualr postcards and other merch here:
From: jenstark.com: Lenticular Postcards Set of 3
Lenticular Kinetic Art: on display is a spectacular use of lenticular animation that signifies the kinetic artwork of Jen Stark @jenstark whose graphic designs have been seen in Times Square and on the Las Vegas Sphere. 3D motion images such as these are comprised of an array of thin cylindrical lenses placed over interlaced multiple images so that each eye sees a different view creating the perception of depth and motion. This special display stand will rock back and forth for weeks using one AA battery in the base using a simple magnetic pushing circuit.
Circularly Polarized Reflecting Scarab
Specimens of this beetle are available on Etsy:
From Etsy: BUY NOW CP reflecting Jewel Scarab
Get the circular polarizing filters (3D glassess lenses) here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Circular Polarizing Filter Glasses
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It was only recently discovered (2010) that Chrysina gloriosa and other jewel scarab beetles can actually see circularly polarized light! The metallic appearance of these beetles is a form ofstructural coloration involving interference.
Wikipedia has a great introduction to Circularly Polarized Light
Circularly Polarized Reflecting Scarab: the iridescent jewel scarabs like this one (Chrysina Gloriosa) have a very rare property: they reflect only circularly polarized light! When viewed through a filter that allows only left CP light the metallic greens and gold colors of the beetle are clearly visible, but if viewed through a right CP filter hardly any light gets through and the beetle looks dark brown. Circularly polarized light is similar to linearly polarized light except the direction of the electric field rotates around the direction of motion such that there is a left handed version (clockwise) and a right handed version. When left handed CP light reflects off a mirror it becomes right handed and vice versa- as seen here with this beetle's reflection. My CP light filters came from a pair of RealD 3D movie glasses. Nobel Laureate Albert Michelson was the first to discover that jewel scarabs preferentially reflect left CP light back in 1911.
Heavy Bubble
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From HaloPlasma.com: BUY NOW: Xenon Alcohol Demonstration Ampoule
Heavy Bubble: this vial contains xenon gas and liquid alcohol at very high pressure (approximately 65 atm) and hence encased in resin for safety. At this extreme pressure the xenon gas becomes more dense than liquid alcohol! The Xe bubble sinks to the bottom in the liquid. In this pressure regime Xe is near a supercritical fluid in its phase diagram, very compressible like a gas, but dense like a liquid. Until I saw this demonstration I did not know it was possible to make a high density bubble like this.
Swinging Wonder Newtonian Demonstrator
This early version sometimes found here (with many new and vintage versions):
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Newton's Cradle Desktop Toy
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Vintage Newton’s Cradle: patented in 1970 this piece of physics toy history is more than 50 years old! This one still has the foil label that reads: Swinging Wonder Newtonian Demonstrator and was the first version of the Newton’s cradle marketed as a desk toy for home or office. The patent holder Lee Trippett manufactured more than 400k units from 1968-1970 out of his Scientific Demonstrators Inc. factory in Eugene OR. Conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy offer insights to describe the dynamics of this famous desk toy, but the best physics description is more complex- dozens of peer reviewed papers have appeared in just the past few years on this fascinating toy.
Rhythmic Ferrofluid
Get this affordable ferrofluid device here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Iridescent Ferrofluid (select option "rhythm machine")
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Rhythmic Ferrofluid: an iridescent magnetic fluid interacts with a variable strength electromagnet (like those found in speakers). A circuit supplies power to the electromagnet in proportion to the sound waves picked up by a microphone, the changing magnetic field- combined with the liquid surface tension of the colloidal ferromagnetic liquid- produces the captivating motion that keeps time with any music played.
Parabolic Mirror Sconce
Get an afordable working replica here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Parabolic Mirror Candle Sconce
Vintage versions often found here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Parabolic Mirror Sconce
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Parabolic Sconce Candle: 29 carefully cut and aligned mirrors set to reflect in parallel what is placed at a centered point. More specifically if the flame of the candle is placed at the focus of the parabola, the light rays from the mirror segments will leave along parallel paths, allowing the candlelight to be projected in a beam. Such candle holders were common before the invention of electric light.
Radiometers
A wide variety available here, including some nice blown glass displays:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Radiometers
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Radiometers: three “light mills” from my growing collection of radiometers (now at 23 so far), including a double with two spinning flys in the same partial vacuum volume. Here the initial light is from a LED, and then a halogen incandescent bulb is turned on which activates the motion. This device goes way back, invented in 1873 by the famous chemist Sir William Crookes when he was investigating partial vacuum environments. Light heats up the “vanes” which then heat up the very thin gas left in the partial vacuum within the bulb- the black side of the vane is hotter than the silver side and any gas molecule that comes into contact with it flies off at a faster speed imparting impulse to the rotor.
Dragon Automaton
Get this amazing dragon here:
From EngineDIY: BUY NOW: Dragon Automaton Kinetic Scuplture
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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.
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.
Whale Automaton Kinetic
Get this kinetic sculpture here:
From engineDIY: BUY NOW: Whale Automaton
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Whale Automaton: a jaunty cetacean swims along via slender linkages to a rotating cam shaft underneath. A delightful use of mechanical translation from rotational motion to the complex undulating motion of this wooden whale. This kinetic sculpture’s motor is powered by a USB rechargeable battery.
RGB Ocean
Get this and other RGB puzzles here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: RGB Puzzles
Click here for similar RGB books: Illuminature Book
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Illuminature Animals
Also: Illuminature Dinosaurs, Illuminature World Atlas, and Illuminature Anatomy
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RGB Ocean: A collage of sea creatures fills this artwork by Carnovsky design studio which is actually comprised of three layers of images which can be seen separately by viewing through color filters- blue, green, and red. This image came with a quality 500 piece jigsaw puzzle of the same design and the three sets of color filter eyewear. Another great demonstration of the physics and psychophysics of color vision.