Applied Physics

Silent Owl Technology: Here's The Secret Of Those Noiseless Wings

Many owl species have developed specialized plumage to effectively eliminate the aerodynamic noise from their wings, allowing them to hunt and capture their prey in silence.  And owls are vicious. Imagine the Go Pro footage you would get if you stuck one ...

Article - News Staff - Nov 29 2013 - 9:00am

Science Play And Research Kit: Lego Robotic Claw

In a previous article I demonstrated how to build a conductivity tester out of Snap Circuits for your Science Play and Research kit. You can use the same circuit with a small modification to build a simple magnetic stirrer. You can also further modify the ...

Article - Steve Schuler - Dec 18 2013 - 9:22am

In Case Man Ever Goes Into Space Again: Glide Arc Discharges, Thermal Buoyancy And Hypergravity

Arc discharges are common in welding and lightning storms but what about about in altered gravity conditions? How often does that really come up? Not often, unless we ever send manned missions into space again, and it may be relevant in the design of ion ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 19 2013 - 12:39pm

Snap Circuits Has Several Themed Kits to Teach Electronics

As I mentioned in my review of the Chem C3000, it’s sad that science kits usually can’t compete with more mainstream stuff like Guitar Hero. They also tend to be pricey, but the upside is that online and brick-and-mortar stores will carry chemistry sets, m ...

Blog Post - Steve Schuler - Dec 24 2013 - 1:07pm

Energy Saving Physics: Resistance Makes Waves

Physics can give pointers for energy saving and an can provide materials scientists with tips for the development of high-temperature superconductors.  Nearly two percent of the electrical energy generated by power stations is lost in the grid. In Germany ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 26 2013 - 1:11pm

Ebb, Flow, Swell- What A Battery Really Looks Like Inside

A way to microscopically view battery electrodes while they are bathed in wet electrolytes means it is possible to mimic the realistic conditions inside actual batteries. It may not seem possible that batter science still has some things to accomplish, bu ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 27 2013 - 1:55pm

Add Light, Sound, And Motion To Your Crafts And Projects With LittleBits

littleBits are color coded electronic modules that connect together magnetically to create simple electronic circuits. They are designed for ages 8 and up so hobbyists, designers, makers, and artists, and can add light, sound, and motion to their crafts an ...

Article - Steve Schuler - Mar 18 2015 - 6:39am

Comic Book Science: How To Defeat Someone Who Gets Stronger When You Hit Them

Comic book heroes get into all kinds of crazy situations, everything from alien invaders to losing their powers. Most often, though, might simply makes right-  but what happens when the thing you are fighting gets stronger from being hit? How do you defeat ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Jan 16 2014 - 6:59pm

Snap Circuits Science: Audible Light Meter

In the comments section of my previous article I demonstrated an optical Theremin. This article is the build for that circuit. The circuit and circuits that are similar to it in function have also been called a “Light Sensitive Tone Generator,” “Photo Ther ...

Article - Steve Schuler - Jan 10 2014 - 4:04pm

Tesla Gets A Little Closer: Range Of Wireless Power Transfer Extended

Inventor and AC electricity proponent Nikola Tesla was on a mission to transmit energy through thin air almost a century ago, but, claims about a conspiracy to keep his work quiet aside, experimental attempts at the feat have resulted in cumbersome device ...

Article - News Staff - Jan 13 2014 - 12:05pm