Get a set here:
From Educational Innovations: BUY NOW Newton's Yoyo
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Newton Yo Yo: Newton's 3rd Law states that action force equals opposite reaction force- the the green and yellow spheres have equal mass, so the forces of the collision provide accelerations that are equal and opposite such that the spheres trade places.
Starter set of 10mm cubes of 99.9% pure elemets available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Pure Element Cube Samples
The main 4 ferromagnetic elements are: Fe, Co, Ni, and Gd.
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Ferromagnetic Elements: which metals from the periodic table experience strong attraction towards a magnet? Here are seven samples- 1 cm cubes of 99% pure elements: Ti (titanium), Fe (iron), Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Cu (copper), Gd (gadolinium), and W (tungsten)- which of these metals are ferromagnetic? Most metals are not, but three elements are strongly ferromagnetic and Gd is less so but still in the exclusive club. Although magnets are familiar objects, the physics of ferromagnetism is very complex and is described by the quantum mechanics of intrinsic particle spin and the specific electron configurations of solids and molecules.
Only made by the Flyte team:
From Amazon: Buda Ball
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Buda Ball: my favorite powered levitation device- and the only system I know of that will suspend in a horizontal direction as seen in this video. A spherical magnet is pinned 1.5 centimeters from the surface of its hardwood base. Within the base is an innovative control system with adjustable electromagnet coils in a feedback loop with Hall effect sensors (I assume) which allow for fine tuning of a magnetic field to precisely balance the pull of gravity- even when the base is in a vertical orientation!
Get this amazingly well engineered device here:
From Spirok: BUY NOW: Spirok ferrofluid BT speaker (use code PHYSICSFUN for 15% off!)
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Spirok Rhythmic Ferrofluid: electromagnets produce changing fields to make a ferrofluid dance. I’ve posted similar devices, but this one takes the art form to the next level- and includes a quality Bluetooth speaker system. Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions that are challenging to contain in a non-chemically reactive environment, the fluid in this device is really amazing- shown here moving to the rhythms of Tahüm.
The UVA and UVC lamps used in this video are available here (well made and reasonably priced professional tools):
From WayTooCool LLC: BUY NOW: UV Lamps
Similar bowls of Mexican onyx can be found here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Stone Onyx Bowls
Get amazing phosphorescent calcite crystal samples here (those with a slight pink color will exhibit the glow):
From Etsy: BUY NOW Optical Calcite Crystal
From Amazon: BUY NOW Optical Calcite Crystal
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Dual Phosphorescence: this stunning “Mexican onyx” bowl is carved out of natural rock that contains phosphorescent calcite that glows in the dark after exposure to ultraviolet light. If exposed to longwave (lower energy) UV-A it glows green, but if exposed to shortwave (higher energy) UV-C it glows a ghostly blue. Phosphorescence is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where high energy UV photons are absorbed by electrons which are then boosted to higher energy levels. The glow comes from these electrons emitting lower energy photons (green or blue in this case) as they jump down through a series of energy levels back towards their ground state. These minerals also fluoresce and look strikingly different under UV illumination.
Get this affordable Kaleidoscope design here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Tapered Mirror Kaleido
See other Kaleidoscopes in my collection
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Pyramidion Kaleidosphere: a precision made acrylic kaleidoscope of 3 tapered mirrors which creates reflections that appear as a 3D curved surface, and with clear gaps in each side that appear upon reflection as a geodesic cage that surrounds the central image. Shining a light through these clear gaps (and the end sphere) creates the brilliant blue flashes and intricate patterns of light. Designed by artist Nick Moore and produced with extremely clean lines by BrilliantAdventures.com. The kaleidoscope itself was invented by the famous Scottish physicist Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), and kaleidoscope innovation is still an evolving art form.
Get a Back Flip wind-up toy here:
from eBay: Search NOW: Backflipping Wind Up Toys
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Backflipping Wind Up: an energy transfer toy- a wound coil spring transfers and stores energy through a set of gears to a straight spring which is suddenly released to create kinetic energy which is then converted to gravitational potential energy- sending the toy air bound into a back flip. Here the Uglydoll character Is made of clear plastic allowing the internal mechanism to be visible. In addition the feet of the character must push off with just the right rotation rate to allow for one full rotation in the air, and the tail has a foam pad to absorb the impact and stop the rotation. A lot of fun physics to consider in this toy.
Get this amazing little lamp here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Illusion Lamp
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Reverspective Illusion Lamp: geometry in relief and perspective combine to produce the illusion of motion and depth. This inexpensive version features a lamp within powered by a USB rechargeable battery. Reverspective relief is an art form made famous by Patrick Hughes where the image is overlaid on to pyramid shapes that project towards the viewer- but the brain perceives the reverse and creates the illusion of depth and motion.
Another amazing spinning device by Prof. Ken Brecher! Get his spinning tops here:
From Educational Innovations: BUY NOW: phoTOP
From Etsy: BUY NOW: phoTOP, PiTOP, eTOP, iTOP, DeltaCELT
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The PhoTOP: phosphorescent glow illuminates the intricate path of a 405nm laser pointer beam on a balanced spinning disk. Let the disk set alone for a few minutes to allow the traces to fade- and repeat again and again to experiment making new patterns.
Get this inexpensive kit here:
From eBay: BUY NOW: Faraday Train Kit
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Here is a nice description of the Faraday Train and the physics of its propulsion.
Faraday Train Kit: a battery with magnets on both ends and a coil of bare copper are the simple essence of this self propelled craft. This kit comes with this springy copper plated coil which is ideal for this demonstration. 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. Using spherical neodymium magnet on the front allows the craft to slide along the coil with minimal friction.
Animated bird set available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Luycho Locomotion Cup & Saucer
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Locomotion Anamorphic Cup & Saucer: Another expertly crafted product from @luycho using an amazing combination of barrier grid animation and anamorphic projection rendered on elegant porcelain. The warped image on the saucer is reconstructed by reflection off the surface of the cup, however the gold mirroring is comprised of parallel lines that only reflect part of the image pattern. Turing the cup (or the saucer and cup together) reveals a flying bird!
I got my timer here:
From Science Decor: BUY NOW: Bent Sandglass
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Bent Space Timer: Happy Near Year and watch time march on via an interesting twist on a standard sandglass- this 30 second timer has the sand move through a bend which sets up a regular pulse as air and sand exchange places from top to bottom.
Available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Infintiy Tea-Light
Get similar canlde holders here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Infintiy Tea-Light
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Infinity Tea-Light Candle: illumination for a winter solstice- two sets of parallel partially mirrored panes of glass produce, through the physics of reflection and refraction, the illusion of multiple candle flames spanning out in two dimensions.
Currently available here:
From eBay: BUY NOW: Infinity Cylinder Tea Light
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Cylindrical Infinity Candle: a simple geometry produces a dramatic effect- a single tea light is reflected multiple times in the partially mirrored glass cylinder, with each image of the flame a bit more distorted/stretched due to the concave interior surface.
Available for all the planets and several versions of Earth:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Mova Globes
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Satellite Earth Globe by Mova: astonishing kinetic art that rotates without a power cord or batteries featuring a counterweighted globe sealed within a clear liquid filled acrylic sphere. The rotation in a Mova globe is powered by light that shines through the semi-transparent Earth image on to solar cells within the globe which supplies electricity to a motor. But what does the motor push against to maintain the rotation? Believe it or not it rotates magnets to push against the Earth’s magnetic field like a compass needle. Wonderful physics of all kinds in the design of this clever device. Model demonstrated: Mova 6” Earth with Clouds based on NASA satellite images.
Get a similar black metal design version of this amazing pen set here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Magnetic Equilibrium Pen
The magnetic viewing film can be purchased here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Color Magnetic Viewing Film
See other super neat levitating pens here: The HoverPen
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Magnetic Equilibrium Pen: a weighty and elegant wooden writing pen dances and stands up on its tip when released, trapped against gravity by magnetic fields. Magnetic viewing film reveals the shape of the field from the strong neodymium magnet in the base, and that of the magnets embedded in the pen. The strength and geometry of these fields allows the pen to stand on its tip even when the base is tilted! Some fantastic physics for the desk top.
Get one here:
From Signals: BUY NOW Rainbow Diffraction Candle
Diffraction Spectrum Candles: plastic diffraction gratings (of two designs) decompose the light of flames into their rainbow spectra. Swipe to see the spectra from a grid of gratings with special orientations that produce a spiral burst effect. The rainbow spectrum is produced not by refraction like that of a prism, but instead by diffraction, where light waves deconstructively and constuctively interfere.
Get this fun magnetic game here (many variations to choose from):
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Kluster Magnet Game
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Kluster Magnetic Challenge Game: explore mysterious action at distance via magnetic fields with this fun game setup. Note how the polished barium-strontium ferrite ceramic magnets repel each other when properly oriented, but once one flips over the unstable equilibrium gives way to the north/south attraction, and they quickly snap together. The game is played by taking turns placing the magnets within the boundary of the cord without any jumping together- the first to place all their magnets in the loop without any “clustering” wins, if some do cluster you take those magnets and lose your turn. Comes with the cord and a nice velvet storage bag.