Rocket Science: 50 Flying, Floating, Flipping, Spinning Gadgets Kids Create Themselves

by Jim Wiese, Tina Cash-Walsh (Illustrator)

Overview

Blast off into the wacky world of gadgets!

Have you ever wondered what makes airplanes fly, how boats float,or why your doorbell works?
* Would you like to build your own flying, floating, diving,spinning, howling, scooting objects?
* Are you looking for a terrific science project that moves?

If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions, then RocketScience is for you. It shows you the science behind how things workby teaching you how to build a rocket boat, kaleidoscope, mousetrapcar, stethoscope, compass, fruit-powered battery, and lots of otherwonderful gizmos. All of the projects are safe and easy to make outof stuff you can find around your house.

This amazing book covers a wide variety of science topics,including mechanics, air power, water power, electricity,magnetism, chemistry, acoustics, and optics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471113577
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	09/15/1995
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	7.03(w) x 9.96(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

JIM WIESE (British Columbia, Canada) is a science teacher and an educational coordinator for nonprofit organizations. He is the author of the popular kids' science-activities book Roller Coaster Science and several science schoolbooks.

Table of Contents

Mechanically Inclined: Using Mechanics to Make Minimachines.

You've Got the Power: Using Air Power to Make Great Gadgets.

Water, Water Everywhere: Using Water Power to Make WonderfulInventions.

Don't Be Shocked If You're Attracted to These Activities: UsingElectricity and Magnetism to Make Amazing Devices.

Great Chemistry: Using Chemistry to Make Cool Creations.

Strings and Things: Using Acoustics to Build DynamiteDevices.

Lighten Up!

Using Optics to Create Fantastic Fun.

Glossary.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-7-The projects in this collection are not particularly exciting, but they work, and kids will learn from them. They are grouped into seven general areas: mechanics, air power, water power, electricity, chemistry, sound, and sight. Each experiment includes a list of materials and clear instructions. Adult help is required for more than half, but most often for simple preparations (cutting wire, hammering a nail). Black-and-white cartoonstyle drawings illustrate how things should look; when more detail is needed, simple diagrams are added. The explanation sections that follow each group of related activities are particularly useful. The author describes what should have happened and why and also suggests how to explore the topic further. Many of the items (e.g., periscope, water rocket, air pump) can be found in other sources, but often without the expanded discussion offered here. The title might mislead readers, since only four of the projects actually resemble rockets, but the others are still interesting enough to intrigue children and introduce science in a way that they'll understand and remember.Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR

School Library Journal