Exploding Disc Cannons, Slimemobiles, and 32 Other Projects for Saturday Science

Neil A. Downie9780801885068, 0-8018-8506-X

These curious and offbeat science experiments provide Saturday scientists of all ages with new ways to mess up the basement and gross out mom – all in the name of education! Accomplished physicist and science writer Neil A. Downie presents a wide variety of creative and innovative projects, from whacky motors to designer demolition; from the skidmobile to the posture meter; from the rice grain ski jump to laser light shows. Each experiment comes with historical background, a list of equipment, detailed instructions, and a full explanation of the science behind it. For those intrigued by any particular experiment, Downie tells you how to tinker with the initial “recipe.Whether printing with invisible ink or marveling at the power of an exploding soda bottle, high-school science teachers, inveterate tinkerers, and amateur scientists will find in this book a full range of projects guaranteed to banish the boredom of a long Saturday afternoon.Praise for Downie’s Ink Sandwiches, Electric Worms, and 37 Other Experiments for Saturday Science:”A job well done, and I recommend it for anyone trying to get science across to a non-specialist audience. – Physics Today”The creative author of this book has filled it with novel and interesting demonstrations of physics, chemistry, and electronics experiments that are perfect for readers who love to tinker. – Science Books and Films”The science in these projects is very nicely explained and the directions are good. – Chemical Education Today”Written in very clear conversational style… People will want to try these experiments because they are fun. – The Physicist”

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Table of contents :
Contents……Page 6
Preface……Page 10
PROJECTILES……Page 16
1 Exploding Disk Cannon: Learn about fracture propagation and launch projectiles……Page 18
DESIGNER DEMOLITION……Page 30
2 Balloon Detonator: Finish your party with a bang, not a whimper……Page 33
3 Slowly Exploding Bolts: Boost your next moon rocket……Page 41
NEW MOTORS……Page 50
4 Vacuum Engine, or Negative Steam Engine: Transmit power with nothing……Page 52
5 Rope Ratchet Motor: Power a motor with a piece of string……Page 62
6 The 50-Cent Stepper Motor: Learn how modern motors work……Page 68
PUSHING STRING……Page 76
7 The Pull-me-to-push-me: Pull a lot of string backward, and you can push a bit of string forward……Page 79
8 Land Jiggers: Alternatively, try ice jiggers and go fishing with Inuit……Page 85
9 Power Strings: What could be more annoying than rows of electricity pylons?: Whistling electricity pylons!……Page 90
PECULIAR VEHICULARS……Page 100
10 Ekranoplan: The close-shaving aircraft: is it a razor or an airplane?……Page 102
11 Slimemobile: Keep your prop turning and don’t run out of slime……Page 116
12 Ball River Bobsled: This vehicle coasts on ball bearings……Page 122
13 Skidmobile: Drive everywhere in a skid……Page 128
CURIOUS CONTROLS……Page 134
14 Wet Blanket Valve Flow Control: Try to control this enthusiastic valve……Page 136
15 Electrolytic Gas Pedal: Adapt an Edison loudspeaker as a speed control……Page 141
16 Piezistor: A Victorian Amplifier: Madame Curie could have invented this transistor……Page 148
GRANULES AND PARTICULES……Page 156
17 Rice Grain Ski Jump: Try these sporting activities for cereals……Page 158
18 Niagara Meter: Shadows show flow……Page 164
19 Magical Magnetic Valveless Valves: Stir a little magnetism into your hourglass……Page 170
20 A Balance of Air Blasts: Sweep gold dust from your carpet, leave the dog hairs behind……Page 179
PERCEPTIVE ILLUSIONS……Page 184
21 Hovering Images: Mirages appear with the aid of rotating lenses and mirrors……Page 186
22 Moiré Microscope: All you need are grids of tiny holes……Page 192
LASER LIGHT SHOWS……Page 200
23 Exploding Laser Spots: Watch this laser-scattering light show……Page 202
24 Instant Parabola Spots: It’s all done with smoke and mirrors (and a laser)……Page 207
OF MORSE AND MEN……Page 212
25 Messages in Wriggling Lines: Communicate with Morse pens and chartagrams……Page 215
26 Helidoodle: Transmit images in spirals……Page 222
27 Calculator Communicator: Send messages using this binary teleprinter……Page 229
INSTRUMENTS……Page 236
28 Posture Meter: Are you sitting comfortably? This meter will tell you……Page 238
29 No Smoke without Gas: Assemble the world’s cheapest nucleonic gas analyzer……Page 243
30 Spongy Gas: Soak up sounds with certain gases……Page 251
31 Soda Water Gas Analyzer: Try the world’s only drinkable gas analyzer……Page 258
32 Electric Plastic: Turn a piece of packaging into a mini-chemistry lab……Page 264
CHEMICAL CORNER……Page 272
33 Electric Sand: Use triboelectricity for flow metering……Page 274
34 Electric Invisible Ink: Print your designs in deep blue with electrolysis……Page 282
Hints and Tips……Page 288
Suggested Further Reading……Page 298
B……Page 304
E……Page 305
I……Page 306
P……Page 307
S……Page 308
W……Page 309
Z……Page 310