The Library will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 in observance of New Year's Eve
and will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, in observance of New Year’s Day.

Physics Fun Case Objects

display case of sculptures
 

This page is a guide to the objects on display in the @physicsfun section of the No Prior Art exhibition. Click the links to view videos and further explanations of each piece on Instagram. All objects are from the collection of Dr. Ray Hall.

close up of display case with numbers

  1. Swinging Sticks - Chaotic motion pendulum as kinetic art, with a hidden battery

  2. Impossible Arrow - How was it made? Physical properties of matter, puzzle 1

  3. Impossible Arrow in Bottle - Physical properties of matter, puzzle 2

  4. Caged 8 Ball - Physical properties of matter, puzzle 3

  5. Impossible Card Deck in Bottle - Physical properties of matter, puzzle 4

  6. Impossible Nail in Wood - Physical properties of matter, puzzle 5

  7. Doubly Impossible Bottle - Physical properties of matter, puzzle 6

  8. Impossibly Linked Sellotape - Physical properties of matter, puzzle 7

  9. Newton’s Cradle - Momentum & energy conservation. Patent: Lee Trippett 1968

  10. Hand Boiler Collection - Liquid evaporation toys of blown glass

  11. Classic Drinking Bird - Liquid Evaporation Heat Engine. Patent: Miles Sullivan 1946

 

close up of display case

  1. Tippe Tops - Famous physics toy - inverting top

  2. Rattleback - Famous for only spinning in one direction

  3. Whee-Lo by Wham-O - Trademarked in 1958. Inventor: Harvey Matusow c.1950

  4. Newton’s Yo-Yo - Popular toy that demonstrates Newton’s 3rd law of motion

  5. Ambiguous Objects - Appear as different shapes depending on viewing angle. Published: Kokichi Sugihara 2016

  6. MOVA Earth Globe - Light-powered rotation via Earth’s magnetic field. Patent: William W. French 2005

  7. Radiometer Collection - Light and heat-induced motion. Patent: William Crookes 1876

  8. Vertical Mendocino Motor - Photovoltaic motor. Invented: Daryl Chapin 1960s

  9. Double Ring Solar Rotator - Solar cell-powered double ring illusion

  10. Solar Fan - Solar cell-powered fan

 

close up of display case

  1. In Defiance of Gravity - An original magnetic sculpture by Ray Hall

  2. LED Infinity Cactus - Classic multiple reflection infinity mirror in the shape of a Saguaro cactus

  3. Fiber-Optic Cactus Lamp - Classic multiple reflection infinity mirror in the shape of a Saguaro cactus

  4. Lightning 2000 Plasma Lamp - Gases glow due to discharge from high voltage

  5. Lumiglas Disk - Gases glow due to discharge from high voltage

  6. Plasma Mug and Tesla Coaster - Gases glow due to discharge from high voltage

  7. Infinity Mirror Bulb - Mirror coating allows for multiple reflections

  8. Balafire Flicker Bulb - Current in carbon filament interacts with magnet at 60hz

  9. Orange Neon General Electric Bulb - Gas glows due to discharge from high voltage

  10. Red Flower Aerolux Bulb - Neon/argon gases glow due to discharge from high voltage

  11. Purple Argon General Electric Bulb - Argon gas glows purple via discharge from voltage

  12. Purple Flower Aerolux Bulb - Gas and phosphorescence green glow

  13. Neon Flicker Flame Bulb - Gas glows due to discharge from high voltage

  14. Flamingo Aerolux Bulb - Gas and phosphorescence green glow

  15. Neon Cat Bulb - Neon glow due to discharge from high voltage

  16. Snowflake Argon Novelty Bulb - Gas and phosphorescence green glow

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