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!
A number of artists now offer vortex marble art on Etsy
From Etsy: BUY NOW Vortex Marbles
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Reactive Vortex Marble: the latest addition to my physics inspired glass art collection which combines bright fluorescent inclusions (which pop at 395nm), a chunk of opalescent iridescence, and the spherical lensing effect that produces the spiral depth illusion of these vortex marbles. An orb of lampwork magic by Paul Katherman @paulietwofingers
Hard to find but avilable here:
From Star Majic: BUY NOW: Orbiter Whirlygig Buzzer
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Deluxe Button Buzzer: the classic spinning button on a loop of string with an added elastic ribbon assembly. The bulge of the ribbon is proportional to the centripetal acceleration- the faster it spins the more the ribbing bows outward. A classic button buzzer can reach 20,000 rpms in normal play, even at 240 fps the ribbon is just a blur. Sold as the Orbiter by Rainbow Products toys.
These kinetic sculptures can be found here:
From eBay: Search NOW: Hoberman Orbiter
Hoberman Spheres are still in production and come in various sizes and colors:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Hoberman Spheres
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Hoberman Orbiter: vintage kinetic sculpture based on the isokinetic structure of the Hoberman Sphere. Bonus- this version glows in the dark! The sphere is opened by centripetal acceleration provided by a motor in the base. The motor is on a timer to repeatedly spin for 10 seconds and turn off for 5 seconds. The physics: when the spin rate is increased the structure expands with the help of the protruding spherical masses that provide additional angular momentum, and hence a centripetal acceleration that pulls sufficiently outward, but when the motor switches off friction reduces the spin rate and the structure contracts under its own weight.
This vintage device can be found here:
From eBay: BUY NOW: Blacklight Scupture
Get a similar LED blacklight here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Blacklight for Posters
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Saturn Blacklight Kinetic Art: when the speed of rotation is faster than the flicker fusion frequency of human vision a banded planet surrounded by flat rings appears in this vintage kinetic art piece from 1997. Now LED pixels are spun by similar motor mounts to create animated 3D images- before that tech existed this artist used fluorescent dyes and blacklight illumination to accomplish the 3D effect. Looks smooth in person- the camera frame rate produces the spokes in the disk which is also interesting. A creation of artist Mille Volte and sold as the Orbitron Saturn.
Get this set here:
From TheDiceLab: BUY NOW: Orbiform d4 Dice
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Orbiform Dice Set: the shape of a standard d4 is the tetrahedron whereas this new dice set are in the form of Meissner tetrahedra, which are in turn based on the Reuleaux triangle. The shape of these dice have constant diameter, no matter their orientation, and will roll like spheres between two planes- note how the acrylic plate stays parallel to the table top.
Get this set here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: set of 5 Solids of Constant Width
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Five Orbiforms: precision 3D printed voumes of constant width. These shapes have constant diameter no matter their orientation and will roll like spheres between two planes- note how the acrylic plate stays parallel to the table as the sphere and other orbiforms roll underneath. The one that resembles a pyramid is the Meissner tetrahedron, which is conjectured to be the orbiform of least volume. A sphere is the orbiform of maximal volume, and the others are based on revolutions of the Reuleaux triangle, pentagon, and heptagon respectively. Skillfully printed in two colors by Brandon of Fractal Forest Makes.
Similar items available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Sphere and Orbiforms
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Sphere and other Orbiforms: pi day special post- volumes of constant width made from solid brass. These shapes have constant diameter no matter their orientation and will roll like spheres between two planes- note how the acrylic plate stays parallel to the table as the sphere and other orbiforms roll underneath. The first orbiform is based on the Reuleaux triangle and the second on a Reuleaux pentagon. Fun pi fact- the perimeter of any shape of constant width is alway equal to the diameter(width) multiplied by pi: P=πd.
KaleidoFlow fluid and associated devices available here:
From Laminar Sciences Corp: BUY NOW: KaleidoFlow Rheoscopic Fluid
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KaleidoFlow Fluid Cell: the phenomenon of streaming birefringence colorfully reveals the temporary sheer stresses induced in a liquid by a moving plastic sphere. The “Glorb” device design features a cylindrical cell with polarizing filters as the top and bottom windows and filled with this special rheoscopic fluid and a plastic bead. This assembly then slides into a base with white LEDs to supply backlighting. Many thanks to Laminar Sciences Corp for supplying this beautiful display cell and bottles of KaleidoFlow fluid for experimentation.
Here is a similar double pendulum curetnly available on KS. Order some chaos today!
From KickStarter: ORDER NOW: the orb drop dp
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Double Pendulum: chaotic motion from a simple assembly of two physical pendulums (one attached to the end of the other) with the energy of the system moving frenetically back and forth between the potential energy of gravity to the kinetic energy of motion. Chaotic motion is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. This double pendulum was made by Doug Cvelbar (minicastings.com) where bearings were used at the pivot points to minimize fiction so that the energy takes many minutes to dissipate.
A new KickStarter campaign from engineer and maker extraordinaire Rian Suiter. Rian has delivered on each all 11 (eleven!) of his creative physics toy related KickStarter campaigns to date. Check out his latest here:
From KickStarter: Order NOW Orb Drop IV marble run track
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The Orb Drop IV: @orbdrop has created another fun DIY marble run- this one uses an Archimedean screw mechanism to bring the marbles continuously back to the top where they are launched along one of three paths- including a vortex funnel. Gravitational potential energy is transformed to the kinetic energy of the orbs as they loop and negotiate the banked turns of the snaking tracks. Three AA batteries and a small motor power the transport assembly.
This unique toy came to me from Germany:
From Kreiselparadies.de: Orbit Spin Disk
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Orbit: spinning disk toy with off-center sphere. Spinning things obey different rules!- its center of mass goes to the top when spun. Very similar physics to that of the tippy-top (a few posts back on this stream).
Get some of these grow-spheres here:
From Educational Innovations: BUY NOW Growing Spheres
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Super Absorbent Polymer: poly-acrylamide polymer crystals are able to absorb up to 200 times their volume of water. Here seven small spheres, approximately 4mm in diameter, were immersed in water for three hours, after which they were slightly more than 23mm across. The final gel sphere is more than 99.5% water- and they bounce!
Similar toys available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Gravitron Gyroscope UFO
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Mystery Orbiter UFO: hidden within this flying saucer shaped toy is a gyroscope, allowing it to balance at seemingly impossible angles, and causing it to precess around an axis through the contact point. The physics and vector nature of angular momentum! Blowing air through one of the three holes spins this gyroscope up.
These 1970s vintage items are sometimes available on Etsy:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Magnetic Ball Sculpture
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Magni-Orb: kinetic art as oscillations about a magnetic equilibrium point. The base and sphere are carved from rosewood and have strong magnets embedded within them that produce an attraction. If the sphere is given some initial rotation it will exhibit complex orbits as the energy trades back and forth between potential energy and kinetic energy. The motion eventually damps out due to friction. A creation by Sven Petersen and imported by SAAP Denmark circa 1970.