Giant Hamster Wheel and Other Projects My Students Made sciencetoymaker 2022-03-18 | Back in the 1990s my Jr. High students made interactive exhibits for a local children's museum. Here we invited kids from the elementary school next door to come over and test them out. I had some pretty rough students, but they rose to the occasion of becoming teachers for the young kids. Although I was terrible at classroom management, all behavior problems ceased because they had a productive way to get attention.
Boomerang Mass Production and Design Variations sciencetoymaker 2020-02-22 | Mass production of the World Wide Boomerang and some other variationsThe main boomerang video (start here) youtu.be/b8TAVaFo7fQIndoor boomerang pattern: http://bit.ly/RoomBoom
Make a Cardboard Case for Your World Wide Boomerangs sciencetoymaker 2020-02-19 | Here are the 2 patterns (top and bottom) for the casehttp://bit.ly/2vqmKmc and http://bit.ly/2SE9SRcHow to make the World Wide boomerang is hereyoutu.be/b8TAVaFo7fQ
This video has been switched to the MAKE channel https://youtu.be/ynWZ7q9ZDa8 sciencetoymaker 2020-02-19 | The pattern is here http://bit.ly/2UILrFaVideo to make a cardboard case for your boomerangs is here youtu.be/42FR6TAzEgA Mass production of this boomerang here youtu.be/6_xhgcKnRLU
Easy Dragonfly Helicopter Update sciencetoymaker 2019-11-15 | Easy Dragonfly Helicopter Build youtu.be/wH6lkmZ8cWsYou can buy classroom packs (35) at sciencetoymaker.org/dragonfly-helicopter/dragonfly-helicopter-store-home/easy-dragonfly-helicopter-class-pack-2Wings from recycled foam (50)sciencetoymaker.org/dragonfly-helicopter/dragonfly-helicopter-store-home/50-helicopter-wings
Why are ULTRA FOAM Walkalong Gliders so Different? sciencetoymaker 2019-06-07 | Ultra Foam is only a few times more dense than air itself, so walkalong gliders made from it fly VERY slowly.Get Ultra Foam gliders here sciencetoymaker.org/airsurf/glider-storeor here if YouTube cuts off the URL http://bit.ly/2K5gCpsLearn to fly gliders here youtu.be/PPNTlilxGF0Thanks to Mike Duran for footage of Ben Saks' indoor flighthttp://bit.ly/31g6mQQ
Family Turns Violets to pH Indicator (acid/base) sciencetoymaker 2019-04-17 | Turn violets into a pH indicator and explore weak acids and bases at home. If violets are not in season, purple cabbage is the old standby, available throughout the year. My camera does not distinguish very well between the starting color (purple) and the indicator color for a base (a beautiful blue). But in real life the difference is clear.
Bruce Yeany School Visit and Interview sciencetoymaker 2018-05-09 | Bruce Yeany will retire from teaching after 40+ years, though let's hope he keeps making hands-on science videos. This video peeks at some of his work, brings you along to a visit to his school and explores how he got started with a really interesting interview.youtube.com/watch?v=uPbzhxYTioM Lissajous patternsyoutube.com/watch?v=dpt6GucTn58&t=3s Trammel of Archamedesyoutube.com/watch?v=VQqpnAKf9cM Rubber Band Solar Motoryoutube.com/watch?v=05zF0sBwHe8&t=5s Magnus Cup Flyersyoutube.com/watch?v=Q66DxZB6plE Magdeburg Hemipheresyoutube.com/watch?v=lVIDxrw5468&t=58s Student Horsepoweryoutube.com/watch?v=eskZ3OORfYM Sound Visualizer and the Chladni Patternsyoutube.com/watch?v=ixk4Q-vCiks Static Electricity Box
Make an Airplane from a Dragonfly Helicopter sciencetoymaker 2018-03-22 | Turn a Dragonfly Helicopter into an Airplane.Full transcript and the pattern: goo.gl/M3DC5DFollow us on Facebook http://bit.ly/2BgXwcxTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Dragonfly Helicopter from Common Materials sciencetoymaker 2018-03-22 | Make a wind-up Dragonfly Helicopter from stuff you have around the house. More information at sciencetoymaker.org/dragonfly-helicopter
Hotwire Cut Foam for Walkalong Gliders Update sciencetoymaker 2018-03-20 | This is an addition to an earlier video about hotwire cutting thin foam paper for walkalong gliders. There are two ways to get very precise thicknesses without special parts.This does not replace the earlier video--only adds to it goo.gl/85gcVx
FLY A WALKALONG GLIDER QUICK START sciencetoymaker 2017-08-01 | The great music by John Doyle goo.gl/aumSX8 with Duncan Wickel goo.gl/M5C8snThe easiest way I have found to start flying walkalong gliders.Contact:goo.gl/xjcHtmGet thin foam and gliders here goo.gl/Y25oyJThanks too to two great science teachers:Bruce Yeany goo.gl/9XF8Hy andJohn Biegun goo.gl/VDQ6C7Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Easy Dragonfly Helicopter Build sciencetoymaker 2016-12-10 | Update to Easy Dragonfly Helicopter youtu.be/NitoyT4ydWoThe web page that accompanies this video is here: goo.gl/nvg1UtTo get the materials, click here. goo.gl/BjfziSThis is the easiest and fastest way to make a Dragonfly Helicopter--good for young kids and hectic public events. For a more advanced Dragonfly Helicopter that you make your own propeller from a 2-liter bottle, click here. youtu.be/XjOp9fw3L9w0:00 (1) Introduction0:42 (2) Let's Get Started Put a propeller on a balsa stick. Hold it close or else this might happen. (there are a few extra sticks if that happens)1:08 (3) Rubber Band Cut a piece 28 cm or 11”. Use sharp scissors to cut. Nonstick scissors (Teflon coated) work especially well)Tying is easy, but confusing at first. The overhand is the simplest knot there is—just make a loop and put the end through. But we put the two ends together and treat them like one strand.(By the way, mountain climbers know this as the European Death Knot!)2:02 (4) Hook the Rubber Band The knot always goes in the back. (because it tends to get caught on the fuselage) 2:36 (5) Make the Wings 3:54 (6) Wind Up the Rubber Band Your helicopter will go higher if you dab some soapsuds, liquid soap or shampoo right here to reduce friction.Most people do not wind enough at first. The first 50 or so turns don’t do much. You can wind more than 150 turns.4:23 (7) Alternate Paper Wings Paper is heavier than foam and not as rigid, so it is not rigid enough to stick out far away from the fuselage. But these paper wings with lots of surface area compensate. Note that paper becomes very limp and weak in humid weather. It might stop working once it absorbs moisture from the air.If this project works well for you, please help spread the word about a good hand-on science project. If it is not working well for you, communicate with me about what’s happening so we can solve the problem. You can leave a message in the comments section below.Follow us on Facebook http://bit.ly/2BgXwcxTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymaker
Eco-Empirical Dragonfly Helicopter Build sciencetoymaker 2016-12-10 | IMPORTANT UPDATE: Since making this video, I made another video for a design that is a bit simpler and uses more"off the shelf" parts (except the rubber band--school/office rubber bands just don't work well). It is not variable-pitch like this EE design, but for most people the newer version is better. So I no longer have the Eco-Empirical kit listed on the Dragonfly Helicopter store page. If you really need to make a variable-pitch helicopter, contact me. I still have some parts that I'll be happy to part with.The newer video of the simpler, fixed-prop design is here youtu.be/O77Y2dEvi0sThe web page associated with this video is here: goo.gl/gNcNRNFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJ Google+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Using Hang Glider-Shaped Foam for Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2016-02-20 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwWhere to get shape-cut foam goo.gl/QmTdfdMore about what "walkalong gliding" is. goo.gl/FS1qgBPattern for glider goo.gl/T8ptwJPattern for one of the bending jigsgoo.gl/WIBFuV
Dihedral Magnus Effect Gliders: Make and Fly sciencetoymaker 2015-12-28 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwSee the text page for more information goo.gl/A24ZZJPhyiscsGirl's excellent video about the Magnus Effect is here goo.gl/zmMq7uMore great science projects at goo.gl/qAXzlg
Human Powered Dragonfly Helicopter sciencetoymaker 2015-12-28 | See the text explanation page here goo.gl/OEAwl3Great music by Al Petteway and Amy White goo.gl/3zCF6YDragonfly Helicopter from Common Materials youtu.be/O77Y2dEvi0sMake an Easy Dragonfly Helicopter youtu.be/wH6lkmZ8cWsMake a Dragonfly Helicopter with an adjustable Propeller youtu.be/XjOp9fw3L9wMore great science projects at goo.gl/vcdz9zFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Make Propellers for Walkalong Gliders (corrected) sciencetoymaker 2015-10-12 | Mike Thompson's YouTube Channel youtube.com/user/gliderguider1Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwMike Thompson shows how he makes his amazing propellers, step by step. You can see Mike's amazing creations at his YouTube channel, goo.gl/bWam05
Make Modular Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2015-10-12 | Walkalong glider innovator Michael Thompson does it again! How to make bigger, badder gliders that you can take apart for storage and transport. We taped this tutorial when Mike visited us this summer.Mike Thompson's YouTube Channel youtube.com/user/gliderguider1Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
See the reloaded version of this video, corrected for the blank at the start sciencetoymaker 2015-10-12 | The corrected version is here goo.gl/6lPffLMike Thompson shows how he makes his amazing propellers, step by step. You can see Mike's amazing creations at his YouTube channel, goo.gl/bWam05
Walkalong Glider Gathering 2015 sciencetoymaker 2015-07-24 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwFor a few days in July of 2015 there was a gathering of walkalong flight enthusiasts and friends. Phil Rossonin (literally wrote the book about walkalong gliders) traveled from Boston; Mike Thompson (engineered thin foam gliders and freewheeling props, invented Jagwings) from Wisconsin; we all traveled to Ithaca to join Erik Herman. Later we went to the Piper Flight museum in Lock Haven. This video shows some of the things we did.Start: Mike makes walkalong glider history—or is it bike-along?0:12 Michelle and Ken Kontenaar kindly put us up for the night and Michelle—who is the Director of Education at the Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York—took us flying. My daughter, who is sciencetoymaker.org techie, accountant and helper also came along and is seated in the front-right of the plane. Emily Cotman was running a cool engineering summer camp that we participated in at the Sciencenter. Unfortunately, as per Scienceter policy, we could not take pictures.0:19 In the afternoon we worked with kids in Barton Hall at Cornell. I got footage of Jagwings for an upcoming video. Rather than take lots of cars and have to deal with lots of parking permits in the Cornell University campus, Erik drove us in on the Physics Bus. Sadly, I did not get any video of that. 0:24 We also tested air rockets that you send up high, where they release auto-gyro helicopters that glide back to earth. A video about that will be coming soon, too. 0:32 The kids launched water rockets without water since we were inside, which makes a loud shock wave at launch. We made gliders with the kids and showed them how to fly all sorts of designs. 1:34 The next day we were in Lock Haven Pennsylvania, at the Piper Museum where Marshal Hopkins was running a summer camp. We made and flew flight project with kids in the great hanger. 3:29 Sadly, Phil had to leave the next day. Mike stayed on and we collaborated on a video about how Mike makes those cool freewheeling propellers for walkalong gliders—yet another video that will out soon. We had a wonderful time! Last time we got together was at the St. Louis Science Center goo.gl/YKblVT
Mosquito Glider Mass Production sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwThe text explanation for this video is here goo.gl/Ngwor1The music is by Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Michael McGoldrick and Jim Murray The Lochaber Badger /Road To Corrandulla
Build a Pull String Helicopter BETA sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | Beta version of instructions for building the helicopter. Launcher instructions coming soon. See sciencetoymaker.org for more information.
Dr Jeff Bindons Pop Pop Gadget sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | Note: Sadly Dr. Jeff Bindon passed away on Oct 15th 2016. I miss him.Jeff Bindon is an engineer and university lecturer in South Africa, and a great friend. He designed the famous see through pop pop (putt putt) engine, a few of which power this entire contraption. I think he is exploring the place where science meets art. More about Jeff and his engines at sciencetoymaker.orgsciencetoymaker.orgfriend: Slater Harrison
How a TV Production Crew Works: Behind the Scenes of Ask This Old House sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | I used my 8 minutes of fame to document how the talent, camera person, director, grip, production coordinator and producer work together as a team to create an Ask This Old House segment. This video is about video production. For directions on how to actually make the overhead water rocket launcher go to http://www.sciencetoymaker.orgsciencetoymaker.orgteacher: Slater Harrison
Make a Deck for the Pop Pop Boat whole sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwMake a deck, cabin and even a smoke stack for the pop pop/putt putt boat. You need to make the steam engine and the 3 dimensional hull first. For those instructions and other DIY science toys, go to sciencetoymaker.orgsciencetoymaker.orgteacher: Slater Harrison
Make a Reed Instrument from a Drinking Straw sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | By cutting the end of a straw you can create a reed instrument that you can actually play a tune on. You can also learn some things about the science of sound and music. This is the beta version of the video (I need to get video footage of various reed musical instruments). Companion web page: goo.gl/D9WEwSFor more DIY science projects and updates to this one, visit http://www.sciencetoymaker.orgFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Jersey Shore Science (and Other Stuff) Road Show 2007 sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | This started out as a science road show. With the abundance of apples we included harvest activities-- cider-making and peeling machines. My wife came and taught origami, adding a cultural element. So I don’t know what to call it, but it was fun as well as educational. Thanks to Mrs. Heather Reeder’s (the other technology teacher at the middle school) organizational ability, lots of 8th grade teenagers were able to help out all day at all three of the elementary schools. So instead of being a stage show with the whole school passively watching an assembly, it was truly interactive. The teenagers worked through the whole day, one grade at a time. They taught the elementary school students in small groups, demonstrating and explaining what was happening. Some of the (male) helpers are not angels in school, but we made it clear that this event was about service and they rose to the occasion. I’m very proud of them. Instructions for building many of the science activities can be found here http://www.sciencetoymaker.org .If you want to more specific information about projects/activities click http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/VidIndex/roadshow.htm The music is by my favorite living composer (and harpist) William Jackson. The songs are from his Duan Albanach CD, which more people should know about. Words fail me in trying to describe how much William Jackson’s work means to me. Dual Albanach commemorates pivotal events which shaped the history of Scotland and I thought it also captured the liveliness of the road show. You can buy it here http://www.harp.dial.pipex.com For US currency select “mail order.” Alternately, try here http://www.buy.com/prod/duan-albanach/q/loc/109/202936328.html Thanks also to Ender’s Orchard, who donated the apples. And thanks to the dozens of other people who helped make the science road shows possible.sciencetoymakertechnology teacher: Slater Harrison
Warrior Run Heritage Days sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | Near my home in Central Pennsylvania I discovered a treasure: Warrior Run Heritage Days. I made a short documentary which includes woodworking, coopering, apple cider, apple butter, toys, rope making, the medicine that cures what ailes ye, wheelwright, flax preparation and spinning, Fort Freeland battle reenactment, Native Americans, pottery, wood fence and rake making, Lowlander Highlander music, Heritage Days origin, craftspeople, home cooking and apprenticing.sciencetoymaker.orgeditor: Slater Harrison
Jersey Shore Science Road Show sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | This started out as a science road show. With the abundance of apples we included harvest activities-- cider-making and peeling machines. My wife came and taught origami, adding a cultural element. So I don’t know what to call it, but it was fun as well as educational. Thanks to Mrs. Heather Reeder’s (the other technology teacher at the middle school) organizational ability, lots of 8th grade teenagers were able to help out all day at all three of the elementary schools. So instead of being a stage show with the whole school passively watching an assembly, it was truly interactive. The teenagers worked through the whole day, one grade at a time. They taught the elementary school students in small groups, demonstrating and explaining what was happening. Some of the (male) helpers are not angels in school, but we made it clear that this event was about service and they rose to the occasion. I’m very proud of them. Instructions for building many of the science activities can be found here http://www.sciencetoymaker.org .If you want to more specific information about projects/activities click http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/VidIndex/roadshow.htm The music is by my favorite living composer (and harpist) William Jackson. The songs are from his Duan Albanach CD, which more people should know about. Words fail me in trying to describe how much William Jackson’s work means to me. Dual Albanach commemorates pivotal events which shaped the history of Scotland and I thought it also captured the liveliness of the road show. You can buy it here http://www.harp.dial.pipex.com For US currency select “mail order.” Alternately, try here http://www.buy.com/prod/duan-albanach/q/loc/109/202936328.html Thanks also to Ender’s Orchard, who donated the apples. And thanks to the dozens of other people who helped make the science road shows possible.sciencetoymakercamera/edit: Slater Harrison
Make a Hull for the Pop Pop whl sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | Make a hull out of a milk or juice carton for your pop pop engine. Cardboard beverage cartons are waterproof, easy to cut and bend and take paint well. Go to sciencetoymaker.org for directions to make the pop pop steam engine and for many other DIY science projects.sciencetoymaker.orgteacher: Slater Harrison
How to Build a Robot Hand sciencetoymaker 2015-06-05 | The whole version of instructions for building a (sort of) working model of a human hand. More information at sciencetoymaker.org/robot-handThe pattern is here sciencetoymaker.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Robot-Hand-Pattern-2.pdf.But before you build this version--quite challenging and messy--consider building the following, simpler designed by my friends at the Greenfield Community Science workshopyoutu.be/tcW-7kSWJi4
Lie Detector Electronics Project sciencetoymaker 2015-05-17 | Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwRecently a TV channel asked to use some footage of the lie detector project. I said ok, and offered to take some better, HD footage with high school acting students that I have been working with. So we made a little teaser. Eventually we'll update the old video.To learn more about the Lie Detector project, go here goo.gl/9EUDSJAnd for the actual instructions, go here goo.gl/JFTGry
Envelope Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2015-05-12 | Update Aug 2018: Sorry we don't sell this anymore. Too often gliders were crushed in the mail. Using gliders made from thin, low-density EPS (expanded polystyrene) is the best way to get started. http://bit.ly/2Pk6V5U(Original description)The easiest way to get started with air-surfing is with an inexpensive envelope containing a variety of gliders. Thin foam gliders are much lighter than paper so they fly very slowly, giving you time to think. Sciencetoymaker teamed up with high school acting students to make learning to fly fun. You can get the gliders here. http://bit.ly/2Pk6V5UFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Walkalong Gliding in Japan sciencetoymaker 2015-03-06 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwWalkalong gliding in Japan at the USUI GAKUEN I'm ENGLISH SCHOOL summer English class that involved science. This was their first time flying, using ready-to-fly gliders from sciencetoymaker. There are some exciting table landings. Thanks to Carl for the footage. More about foam walkalong gliders atgoo.gl/JUHoUSAlso a homage to Mr. Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu, who pioneered very thin foam gliders of whimsical designs. goo.gl/Mw3d1RThe music is Sing Sing Sing by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Hotwire Cut Foam for Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2014-12-27 | Companion web page: goo.gl/85gcVxHere is an add-on video that shows how to make a hot-wire slicer with common materials: youtu.be/3E1Sk-rhA0cLinks to how to fly walkalong gliders, build walkalong gliders, etc. atgoo.gl/Z6nRENFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Mass Production of Mosquito Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2014-05-06 | The text explanation is here goo.gl/0OJsxzMusic by Black Bear Crossing. Buy the CD here goo.gl/H7GCvZFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Make a Mama Bug Giant Walkalong Glider sciencetoymaker 2014-05-02 | Companion web page http://bit.ly/2vS48cjThanks to the Massachusetts-based group Long Time Courting for wonderful music. http://www.longtimecourting.comThe song—My Johnny was a Shoemaker--is from their CD "Alternate Routes". Thanks to Cos for video of a live performance, which you can see here goo.gl/R64D5V They tour extensively and their live performances are great.Follow us on Facebook http://bit.ly/2BgXwcxTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Hard Water Sailing with Greg Kohler sciencetoymaker 2014-04-12 | My friend Greg Kohler--engineer, bluegrass banjo player and gourmet garlic grower-- makes his own ice boats and has to get his "hard water sailing" fix every winter even if it means traveling north to colder weather. This year it was plenty cold close to home, at Rose Valley Lake in Pennsylvania. Usually the experience is very cold, especially with wind chill, but that day in March was mild. Unfortunately, we hit a bump and with my extra weight, one of the skates bent. You can see the spray scraped from the ice gives visibility to the wind about a minute in.Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
How to Make a Mosquito Walkalong Glider sciencetoymaker 2014-04-06 | Please note that these instructions have been superseded by simpler methods, which you can see here:youtu.be/eGvxzYi8x5cFollow us on Facebook http://bit.ly/2BgXwcxTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwMuch more information about Walkalong Gliders/Air-Surfing and links at goo.gl/FS1qgBThe pattern is here goo.gl/2hRYk0The songs are Suite Irlandaise / The King of the Fairies by French Harpist Alan Stivell. Following is some text that explains the video. I cannot fit it all here. The full text is here.goo.gl/AKURfBThe music: Starting in the 1970s Alan Stivell revived world interest in Celtic music in general with goo.gl/MBg3H3 . You can get a taste here goo.gl/Q6NWs6 Bruce Elder said, "People who have heard this record are never the same again"; I concur. Although Stivell is steeped in traditional music, he is also incredibly innovative. His website is here http://www.alan-stivell.com and you can see the original early concert here goo.gl/naUEJA FULL TEXT IS HEREgoo.gl/AKURfB
Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2014-03-27 | This is text to explain the video. I cannot fit it all here. The full text is here. goo.gl/PGFdAnBut first, the beautiful music—"Willow Girl", "The Field in the Forest" & "The Windy Hemlock"--is by the trio Crowfoot.http://www.crowfootmusic.com They are playing at the Institute of Musical Traditions youtu.be/u68-5Ekyoo0http://www.imtfolk.org/htmlMuch more information about Walkalong Gliders/Air-Surfing and links at goo.gl/JUHoUS Follow us on Facebook http://bit.ly/2BgXwcxTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwI did not invent walkalong gliding (AKA air-surfing)— the activity of mysteriously levitating gliders with deflected relative wind. The concept has been around for a generation, goo.gl/ZXpjPLyet it remains almost unknown. There is a reason for that. Although walkalong gliders are not difficult to make and fly, getting people through the FIRST STEP has been difficult. My obsession for the last 5 years has been to get my students' heads into the sky with their feet on the ground--flying as a hands-on science activity. We started with paper gliders but switched to very thin foam, recycled from packaging, which has superior strength to weight ratios. Then we found foam that was even lighter. Finally, we have gliders so efficient and slow-flying that people can be flying within minutes. Almost all the people in the video had not known how to fly 5 minutes earlier.The best way to start is to buy a box of foam that also has a couple of ready-to-fly gliders. It's not only that you can start flying very quickly; knowing how the gliders are made and flown then makes it easier to make your own. The proceeds from the sales go to a nonprofit Physics Factory goo.gl/PpjT9x1.) The numbers correspond to the numbers at the top of the screen in the video.2.) The easiest way to start out is buy a box of foam which includes some ready-to-fly gliders. Open carefully and save the box for protective storage and transport.3.) This is special very low-density foam which is unbelievably lightweight. It is recycled, originally used to cushion imported furniture. We hotwire cut it on a homemade robotic CNC machine to perfect half millimeter slices. It is also very delicate to handle. You can wreck it without trying. 4.) Although the gliders have been tested and are ready-to-fly, we have to bend the front wire weight flat for shipping. Just bend it 90 degrees, but be very gentle as you handle the glider. If you don't bend it forward, the glider will probably stall rather than fly forward. If the glider still seems to stall too much, you can bend it forward even more. This shifts the "center of gravity" (balance point) forward in the glider. Opposite, if the glider dives, then you can remedy diving by bending the wire backward, which shifts the center of gravity backward.5.) For launching, make sure that you are holding the glider right side up: the wire bends down. There is a little downward bend at the front of the wing. This front wing bend is called camber and it creates an airfoil shape for more efficient flying. At the back of the wing are 2 flaps that bend 45 degrees up, called elevons. They keep the glider from diving.You hold the glider gently from the back. Notice that there is a thumb and finger below, and just one finger above the glider. This keeps the glider wings slanting up just a little. This upward slant of the wings is called "dihedral", which all airplanes have for better stability.Caution: some people unconsciously hold the glider in a way that makes the wings droop down (anhedral). If the glider wings do not spring back to dihedral, then the glider will not fly.THIS IS ALL I CAN FIT IN THE YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION BOX. THE FULL TEXT IS HEREgoo.gl/PGFdAn
Warrior Run Heritage Days with Black Bear Crossing sciencetoymaker 2013-04-16 | Photographs of Warrior Run Heritage Days by James Walter, music by Black Bear Crossing.photographs: James Waltermusic: Black Bear CrossingFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Warrior Run Heritage Days with Fieldstone Music sciencetoymaker 2013-04-16 | Still pictures of Heritage Days by James Waltersceincetoymaker.orgFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
How to Make an Overhead Water Rocket Launcher.mov sciencetoymaker 2013-04-16 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwAll steps combined. This was on Google video in 2009, but they went defunct, so I transferred it to YouTube. There is a simpler design here: goo.gl/hDNMt5
Thompson Jagwing sciencetoymaker 2013-03-02 | Mike Thompson's YouTube Channel youtube.com/user/gliderguider1Text and links here: goo.gl/4C5rjqFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Make an Electronic Lie Detector (part of a polygraph) sciencetoymaker 2013-02-21 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwThis is an instructional video about making a "lie detector" project, created for my students. It is related to a polygraph in that it does measure how much you sweat by measuring your conductivity.For details on where to buy the components in bulk, go heregoo.gl/JFTGryTo see an excellent video that shows how polygraphs work and the controversy over them:goo.gl/7UITxt
Make a Mama Bug Air-Surf Glider sciencetoymaker 2013-02-19 | This video has been superseded by an updated Mama Bug video. Newer Mama Bug Video: youtu.be/PNsXFnobEW4Companion web page: http://bit.ly/2vS48cjWe are now using lighter, higher performance foam which gives even more efficient flight. There is no longer a need to use thicker foam for the Mama Bug. More about walkalong gliders: goo.gl/FS1qgBFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJTwitter twitter.com/sciencetoymakerGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtw
Make the Ben Bug and Tri Bug Walkalong Gliders sciencetoymaker 2013-02-19 | Follow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwText and links:goo.gl/yfv1B0
Make a Baby Bug Air-Surf Glider sciencetoymaker 2013-02-19 | This video is now somewhat dated. You can see more recent developments here goo.gl/FS1qgBFollow us on Facebook goo.gl/3R1SwJGoogle+ goo.gl/igYDtwText and links here:goo.gl/gv9HhW
Ruined Video (see text below) sciencetoymaker 2013-02-19 | I am no longer linking to this version because YouTube ruined the video with "stabilization". The reloaded video is here:goo.gl/8i5WP4Text and links here:goo.gl/9sCKtf
