The Science of Toys: Blocks & Dominoes

Children's toys provide good examples of the basic laws of physics. Blocks, dominoes, marbles, and balls are but some of the many toys governed by math and science. The book series The Science of Toys provides graphs of toys in motion. In Volume 1, graphs show the force applied over time as blocks and dominoes are pushed on flat and inclined planes.  Analyses include both wood and metal surfaces. Graphs can be used to calculate velocity, force, friction, work, potential energy, and kinetic energy. In Volume 2, graphs show the position of toys in motion as they are pulled by gravity in free-fall and on inclined surfaces.  Data is presented on a variety of shapes of blocks and balls, plus a cylinder, as they move across wood and metal surfaces. Coordinated graphs also show toys as they are pushed by a time-limited force on a flat surface and allowed move freely until coming to rest.  A related anthology, The Science of Play, contains 28 graphs selected from The Science of Toys and a related series, The Science of Marbles. 

The graph below is excerpted from The Science of Toys, Volume 1.

Discussion Questions

Graph 1

1. Why does the force line go both up and down?
2. Over what time span is force exerted on the cube?
3. How much force is exerted on the cube?
4. How much work is shown in this graph?

Graph 2

1. How far does the cube travel?
2. Over what time span does the cube move?
3. Is the time span the same as the force exerted in Graph 1? Why or why not?
4. Is friction present in the experiment? Why or why not? 
5. What is the maximum velocity of the cube?
6. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the cube?

Graph books by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D. are available in both English and German from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Powell's, and other internet retailers. Wholesale is available directly from CreateSpace online.


Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

Best Ball Sport Science Book: Sampler Edition!

The best book of ball sport science has now arrived from Schottenbauer Publishing! The Sampler Edition of Bounce, Roll, & Fly! The Science of Balls contains graphs from 24 sports balls as they demonstrate trnaslational and rotational motion, coordinated with a set of three YouTube videos. 

The balls, in alphabetical order, include: baseball (official, safety, plastic), basketball, cricket ball, dodge ball, football (American), golf ball (official, foam, plastic), hackeysack, hockey (field, low density street, high density street), kickball, lacrosse ball, ping pong (table tennis), racquetball, rugby ball, soccer, softball, tennis ball, toy ball, and volleyball. Graphs show the balls as they bounce on a concrete floor in 1-dimensional motion, roll down an incline and across a concrete floor in 2-dimensional motion, and fly off a wood incline and bounce across the concrete floor in 2-dimensional projectile motion. The graphs can be used for classes in physical science, physics, and physical education.

The following graph is excerpted from the Sampler Edition:

Discussion Questions

1. How many times does the ball bounce?
2. From what height is the ball dropped? 
3. Does the ball bounce up and down in a straight line? Does it drift to one side? Does it roll to the side?
4. Describe the motion of the ball in words. 
5. Redraw the graph with a new axis, with 0 at the bottom of the graph.
6. Why does the ball not bounce back to the same height?
7. What is the maximum energy of the ball? What happens to the energy of the ball as it falls and bounces?
8. Write one or more equations to describe the motion of the ball.
9. Would a regular baseball bounce more or less times than the safety baseball? Higher or lower? Why?
10. Would a plastic baseball bounce more or less times than the safety baseball? Higher or lower? Why?

Schottenbauer Publishing offers a variety of books relevant to the science of balls, including: 

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• Bounce, Roll, & Fly! The Science of Ball Sports
• The Science of Hockey (Field, Street, & Ice)

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Ball Sports
• The Science of Summer Olympic Sports 
• The World in a Graph

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Summer Olympic Sports

Books by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D. are available in both English and German from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Powell's, and other internet retailers. Wholesale is available directly from CreateSpace online.

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

Free Education Resources

New Books on the Science of Toys!

The science and math of toys are topics of new books from Schottenbauer Publishing. Presenting data from real experiments collected by the science writer and publisher M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., these books bring the "high tech" end of play to audiences everywhere!

In these books, students can enjoy learning about the physics of favorite toys for youth and children, including blocks, dominoes, marbles, balls, and more! Several series of science books feature graphs and data, illustrating common mathematical functions, plus a variety of concepts from physics. The science books can be integrated into classes such as math, physical science, physics, and physical education, anywhere from 7th grade through high school, as well as some introductory college and university classes. 

Books include the following:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• Sports
• Balls, Gymnastics, Ice Skating, Hockey, Ballet & more!
• Transportation Toys
• Toy Cars, Trains, Boats, Planes, & more!
• Construction Toys
• Balsa Wood Construction & more!
• Music Toys
• Recorders, Band & Orchestra, Guitar, & more!
• Entertainment Toys
• Toys, Blocks, Dominoes, Marbles, & more!
• General Physics Toys
• Marbles, Spinning Tops, & more!
• Electric Sets, Magnets, & more!

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Play
• The Science of Ball Sports

The same publisher offers similar books on additional popular topics, including sports, transportation, construction, environment, music, entertainment, and general physics. All of these book series are available in several formats and languages, including the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• Print & E-Book Editions
• Available in English & German
• Olympics Books Available in 15 Languages
• Ballet Book Available in 3 Languages (English, German, & Chinese)

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• Print Editions
• Available in English & German

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• Print Editions
• English Only

Additional Information

Online Catalog from Schottenbauer Publishing

Lesson Plans & Free Samples

YouTube Video Previews

PInterest

Vendors

Amazon & Worldwide Affiliates

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

CreateSpace

CreateSpace Wholesale

MusicaNeo Digial Sheet Music

Zazzle Art, Posters, & Memorabilia

Unbeatable Specials

With Kindle Unlimited ($9.99/month) at Amazon.com, you can read all e-books from Schottenbauer Publishing for no extra charge! Amazon offers Free 30 Day Trials of Kindle Unlimited. With this deal, trial members can read all Schottenbauer Publishing e-books free! This includes all the geometry workbooks, plus "The World in a Graph," "Alphabets of the World," textbooks on the science of music, all the e-book puzzles, and the educational novels by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D.