Rajasekar, S., Velusamy, R., & Sanjuán, M. A. (2023). Understanding The Physics Of Toys: Principles, Theory And Exercises. World Scientific.

Demonstrating many fundamental concepts of physics and engineering through the working principles of popular science toys is inexpensive, quickly reaching the senses and inspiring a better learning. The systematic way of setting theoretical model equations for the toys provides a remarkable experience in constructing model equations for physical and engineering systems. Given that most science toys are based on the principles of physics, and to cater to the needs of graduate and master-level programme students in physics and engineering, the present book covers more than 40 wide ranging popular toys. For each toy various features are presented including history, construction, working principle, theoretical model, a solved problem and 5–10 exercises. A course on The Physics of Toys can be designed based on the proposed book to be taught as a full course at graduate and master-level and even to students who have never been exposed to physics. Further, the features of the toys covered in this book can be used to illustrate various concepts and principles in different branches of physics and engineering.

• Explaining Physics with the Help of Toys. World Scientific.

The main task of the initial period of studying physics is inculcating the interest and enthusiasm of children in this subject. The root cause of all interest is surprise, and for children there is almost nothing more surprising than a new and unusual toy. There is a whole class of toys with unusual mechanisms, behaviour, or way of interacting with them. Having explained to the child the not quite ordinary, and often paradoxical, properties of such toys, we can gradually instil in him an interest in physics as one of the most important sciences about the nature of the surrounding world. The main purpose of the book is to arouse interest in the study of physics with the help of toys that everyone has loved since childhood. The book contains descriptions of the toys in which, with the help of explanations of the devices and principles of operation, the basic physical laws are revealed, together with perspectives of phenomena and patterns, practical significance, as well as historical information. The individual descriptions contain the minimum necessary mathematical calculations as well as information of environmental, statistical, and household orientations. All toys are systematized according to 4 chapters: Mechanics, Liquids and Gases, Electricity, and Optics. To a large extent, self-production of simple scientific toys can increase interest and enthusiasm in the process of teaching physics. To this end, the fifth chapter provides step-by-step instructions for making 14 such homemade toys from the most affordable materials using the simplest tools. The participation of teachers or parents in the process of making these toys by young children will undoubtedly provide positive emotions and establish trusting relationships.