What do the iPhone, playstation controller, Hubble telescope, kids top spinner and space station have in common? They all utilize a device called a gyroscope. Gyroscopes are rapidly spinning wheels on an axis that are used to measure and maintain orientation. Gyroscopic force is a fascinating and magical phenomenon, with amazing scientific principles behind it. With the small, fast-spinning gyroscope in this new Thames & Kosmos' Gyroscopes & Flywheels Building Science Kit, you can build models and perform experiments that appear to defy the force of gravity by balancing and standing upright when common sense would tell you they should fall over. Build a model of a break-dancer that uses the gyroscope to spin and balance on its head. Construct a gyroscopic vehicle that keeps its balance like a Segway but with just one wheel. Assemble a cool robot that can zoom along a thin rail on two inline wheels without falling down. The lower part of this robot is a flywheel engine - a fast-rotating, weighted wheel that stores rotational energy and drives a gearwheel that moves the model forward. Even more models can be built using the flywheel function, including a motorbike, a space car, and a trike. A simple pull of a ripcord starts the gyroscope and flywheel spinning - no batteries required! Gyroscopes & Flywheels Building Science Kit from Educational Toys Planet includes a 32-page, full-color manual with the easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions.
