UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSICS OF TOYS

Demonstrating many fundamental concepts of physics and engineering through the working principles of popular science toys is inexpensive, quickly reaching the senses and inspiring a better learning. The systematic way of setting theoretical model equations for the toys provides a remarkable experience in constructing model equations for physical and engineering systems. Given that most science toys are based on the principles of physics, and to cater to the needs of graduate and master-level programme students in physics and engineering, the present book covers more than 40 wide ranging popular toys. For each toy various features are presented including history, construction, working principle, theoretical model, a solved problem and 5–10 exercises. A course on The Physics of Toys can be designed based on the proposed book to be taught as a full course at graduate and master-level and even to students who have never been exposed to physics. Further, the features of the toys covered in this book can be used to illustrate various concepts and principles in different branches of physics and engineering. Contents: Preface Introduction: Fundamental Concepts Mechanical Toys: Roly-Poly Seesaw Newton's Cradle Falling Slinky Walking Slinky Woodpecker Cartesian Diver Spinning Toys: Top Tippe Top PhiTOP Euler's Disk Fidget Spinner Rattleback Hurricane Balls Gee-Haw Whammy-Diddle (The Notched Stick) Gyroscope The Buzzer Yo-Yo Astrojax Hula Hoop Flying Toys: Balsa Gliders Magnus Glider Kite Throwable Toys: Frisbee Boomerang Skipping Stones Bouncing Popper Heat and Thermodynamic Toys: Drinking Bird Putt-Putt Boat Crookes Radiometer Electric and Magnetic Toys: The Gauss Rifle The Levitron Electric Train A Simple Electromagnetic Train Fun-Fly-Stick Plasma Ball Miscellaneous Toys: Some Other Toys Index Readership: Graduate students in physics and engineering, physics educators and practitioners in the field of physics of toys. 'The use of toys in physics teaching and demonstrations for general audiences is amazing, capturing the attention of the public and providing a fun context for better understanding physics principles.This book offers a wonderful description of the physics behind numerous toys, with plenty of exercises to reinforce learning.It is an inspiring and useful resource not only for educators from elementary to university level, but also for science and engineering students and anyone who loves physics.' - Manuel FiolhaisUniversity of Coimbra, Portugal 'This book describes the physics of 46 different toys under chapter headings Mechanical, Spinning, Flying, Throwable, Thermodynamics, Electric and Magnetic and Miscellaneous. There is a comprehensive selection of toys in the 472 pages, including well known toys such as Newton's cradle, the drinking bird, a tippe top and Euler's disk, plus more modern toys such as the fidget spinner, the Phitop and the Astrojax. Each toy is described and explained in detail, with clear illustrations, and includes a helpful list of references as well as a set of exercises to challenge the reader.There are many published papers on the physics of toys, primarily aimed at high school students. This book is different in that the authors offer more advanced theoretical explanations. The level is similar to that in papers found in the American and European Journals of Physics. Despite the fact that toys are usually designed to amuse young children, the underlying physics can be quite complicated. The authors have succeeded in extracting the relevant physics, at a level suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate physics students. It will also appeal to university lecturers looking for interesting material to illustrate their lectures.' - Rod CrossUniversity of Sydney, Australia Key Features: Developed as a textbook covering various features of wide variety of low-cost popular science toys No text/popular book currently available that cover exhaustive details on the construction, working principle,...