- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press (Sep 24 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0691009864
- ISBN-13: 978-0691009865
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 19.4 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 499 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #851,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
Downie runs a weird-science club in England that, through the construction of Goldbergian gadgets, teaches kids the physical principles behind technology. In these recipes, he exhibits a playful attitude that disarms any hesitation about cannibalizing everyday stuff--radio-controlled toys, for example--for the quite basic gear that many of Downie's projects require. Most illustrate the physics of waves or mechanics, and for the hard-core gadgeteer, Downie appends to each project an explanation of the mathematics describing what's going on with, say, a rotating, ribless umbrella, but every project is built around inspiring delight and wonder. There is an upgrade of the classic cups-and-string telecom technology, which Downie calls the string radio. He illustrates the basic idea of modern smart-bomb warfare in the shape of a (perfectly safe) guided carpet missile, and throughout he sprinkles a number of amusingly useless labor-saving devices: Anybody need a string-driven nutcracker? A fertile and funny idea-book for the Erector set crowd. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
This is great interactive stuff, amusingly written by a British scientist who honed his skills conducting a Saturday activity center for kids. . . . As well as the fun there is science too, equations and all. -- Douglas Palmer, New Scientist
A fertile and funny idea-book for the Erector set crowd. -- "Booklist
A fascinating new book. . . . The style is eclectic and interesting. . . . It brings together practical, accessible physics with a gentle amount of theory in an entertaining and educational manner. There is much here that will both stimulate a curiosity about physics and help with good--if not inspirational--physics teaching. -- "Physics World
A fertile and funny idea-book for the Erector set crowd. -- "Booklist
A fascinating new book. . . . The style is eclectic and interesting. . . . It brings together practical, accessible physics with a gentle amount of theory in an entertaining and educational manner. There is much here that will both stimulate a curiosity about physics and help with good--if not inspirational--physics teaching. -- "Physics World
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
J.R.R. Tolkien's rings have mysterious powers, such as invisibility or the ability to overpower the minds of others. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
J.R.R. Tolkien's rings have mysterious powers, such as invisibility or the ability to overpower the minds of others. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Book,
By W. Watson (Nevada City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly, and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects (Paperback)
I've only had this book for a few days, but have found the projects unusual and offbeat. For the most part, they are not a rehash of old science projects. They are well described and each one has a good description of the science and math behind them. The illustrations are not overly detailed, but they do the job quite well. I found it a little odd that the description of what the project is about is separated from the chapter on the project. The summaries of what is interesting about the projects and simply what they do is in the front of the book. If you open to a project within the book, you'll wonder what the real appeal of the project is until you go to the front of the book.The author is quite a tinkerer and at least one of the project toys is patented. I believe a few others are heading toward patents. Several projects require access to a small amount of Mecanno (or Erector) set parts. These companies almost do not exist it the U.S. any longer. However, Brio recently started distributing Erector sets again. I'm sure one could find substitutes for the Mecanno parts at a local hardware store or maybe even make them.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
The bazooka is a good experiment,
By R.H. (Fairfield, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly, and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects (Paperback)
I enjoyed the book, but so far the only experiment we've done is the vacuum bazooka, for which I recommend using a wet vac and small water balloons as ammo.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews) 37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Book,
By W. Watson - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly, and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects (Paperback)
I've only had this book for a few days, but have found the projects unusual and offbeat. For the most part, they are not a rehash of old science projects. They are well described and each one has a good description of the science and math behind them. The illustrations are not overly detailed, but they do the job quite well. I found it a little odd that the description of what the project is about is separated from the chapter on the project. The summaries of what is interesting about the projects and simply what they do is in the front of the book. If you open to a project within the book, you'll wonder what the real appeal of the project is until you go to the front of the book.The author is quite a tinkerer and at least one of the project toys is patented. I believe a few others are heading toward patents. Several projects require access to a small amount of Mecanno (or Erector) set parts. These companies almost do not exist it the U.S. any longer. However, Brio recently started distributing Erector sets again. I'm sure one could find substitutes for the Mecanno parts at a local hardware store or maybe even make them. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Science Challenges for all ages,
By Dr. F. K. Schweighardt - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly, and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects (Paperback)
Neil Downie has developed another outstanding summary of science projects/challenges for all ages. At this time, when bcominig a scientist may not be the #1 career--- these projects get the attention of the student,parent and teacher alike. The opportunity to try, fail and try again--usually ends in success. We need this type of approach to encourgae our children to consider science as a career.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly, and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects.,
By A. L. Hitchins "Interested enthusiast" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly, and 27 Other Saturday Science Projects (Paperback)
The technical language was easily understood and presented in a clear interesting manner.Mr Downie has inspired me to have a real go at these projects. As we say in New Zealand "Sweet As". |
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