Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The Way Toys Work: The Science Behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and More

The Ways Toys Work: The Science Behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and More by Ed Sobey and Woody Sobey
Profiling 50 of the world’s most popular playthings—including their history, trivia, and the technology involved—this guide uncovers the hidden science of toys. Discover how an Etch A Sketch writes on its gray screen, why a boomerang returns after it is thrown, and how an RC car responds to a remote control device. Leaving no detail unrevealed, the guide includes original patent-application blueprints and photos of the “guts” of several devices. Complete with explanations of do-it-yourself experiments and tips on reverse engineering old toys to observe their interior mechanics, this reference even provides pointers on how budding toy makers can build their own toys using only recycled materials and a little ingenuity.

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