I am writing this latest book "Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids" on-line, so my readers can see and comment on the material as it is written.

As time goes on, I will be adding new material, so you might want to bookmark this page, and visit from time to time.

The book describes in simple terms how to make toys that teach science. First I discuss how to make a science toy, so those who only want to build the toy can do so without bothering with how or why it works.

After that, I explain the science behind the toy, starting with simple concepts, and building to a college level. The reader can read as far as desired, then skip the more complicated stuff and go on to the next science toy. Or they can build all the toys first and play, and be able to come back to the book when someone asks how it works.

All of the science toys are things I have built and demonstrated many times, sometimes on television, sometimes in small groups. The most successful and interesting science toys make it into the book.

In the following table of contents, sections that have been written already are in the form of links, so the reader can jump right in. Sections that are not ready yet are simply text, there to let you know what to look forward to.





Chapter 1: Magnetism:

Experimenting with magnetorheological fluids.
Suspending a magnet in mid-air.
Building a Curie-effect heat engine.
Going further:
Superconductors.

Chapter 2: Electromagnetism:

Building an electric motor in 10 minutes.
The single brush motor.
The double brush improvement.
The hanging brush variation.
A 10 minute motor with no magnet.
An electric pendulum in 10 minutes.
Building an electromagnetic coil gun.

Chapter 3: Electrochemistry:

Building a plastic hydrogen bomb.
Electromachining, electroetching, and electroplating.
Building your own solar battery.

Chapter 4: Radio:

Building a quick and simple radio.
Building a radio out of household implements.
Building a radio transmitter in 10 minutes.
Building a matching receiver and signal strength meter.
Building a very simple AM voice transmitter.
Going further:
License-free radio frequencies.
Getting an Amateur Radio license.

Chapter 5: Thermodynamics:

Building simple heat engines.
Hero's steam engine.
A simple steam engine powered boat.
A simple rotary steam engine.
An engine driven by the heat of your hand.
A bi-metal strip heat engine.
A simple rocket engine you can build in your kitchen.
Building a Film Can Cannon.

Chapter 6: Aerodynamics:

Building a Bernoulli levitation ball.

Chapter 7: Light and optics:

Quick and simple laser communicator.
Improved laser communicator.
Make your own 3D pictures in minutes.
Building the impossible kaleidoscope.
Building a simple spectroscope.
How to video tape through a microscope.
Make a solar hotdog cooker.
A high resolution spectrograph.
Going further:
Lasers and holography.

Chapter 8: Space science:

Detecting meteors with an FM radio or television.
Collecting micrometeorites in your backyard.
Listening to Jupiter.
Going further:
Astronomy clubs.
Building your own radio telescope.







For more information on these subjects, see the Recommended Reading section.

On the lighter side, check out Surprising Science.


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Send mail to Simon Quellen Field via leven@scitoys.com