Outcome

Tightly Coiled Spring Set

Principle: Inertia, Energy, Waves, Gravity

Description of Interaction: Children (ages 5-8) can 'race' tightly coiled springs of varying lengths and diameters downstairs. 

Construction Cost, Durability, and Safety: It will cost approximately $50 to build (most of the cost goes into the springs and the stair case is an optional component). Durable unless the child intentionally bends or destroys the spring. Hazardous because the connected rings can pinch a child.

What I Learned: I had some difficulty coming up with toys that would be educationally engaging to children while providing fun. I would always tumble slinky's down the stairs when I was a child without realizing the physics behind the toy, I did start to point out the differences of a metal slinky compared to a plastic slinky. If different springs that are noticeably different are compared to one another, it can be beneficial to sparking an interest in physics in a child. 

Car Crash Toy

Principle: Newton's First Law of Motion

Description of Interaction: When the toy car hits a wall or another object with enough force, the driver will fly out of the car. This toy is for children ages 7-10.

Construction Cost, Durability, and Safety: It will cost approximately $25 to build. Relatively durable. A choking hazard can occur if the passenger is small enough, even if it is connected to the larger component of the car with a string..

What I Learned: I was thinking of ways to easily teach children about elementary physics principles and as a child I would always wonder why my head would jerk forward when the car stopped short or why it was difficult to stand on a moving bus. As I was thinking of these toys, I realized that it is easy to show the characteristics of gravity or inertia, but difficult to create a connection between the laws of motion to a simple toy.

Suction Cup Toy

Principle: Basic Spring Concepts

Description of Interaction: Children (ages 5-8) can change the spring component of the toy with alternative springs of different lengths and spring constants. 

Construction Cost, Durability, and Safety: It will cost approximately $25 to build (most of the cost goes into the springs). Relatively durable as long as the child does not try to destroy it. Somewhat of a choking hazard, but the relatively large size of the object can prevent that. Somewhat hazardous because if it is larger in size, when it pops up it can hit the child in the face, but if that is kept in mind it can be prevented. 

What I Learned: It is relatively difficult to think of a children's toy that is realistic to construct, that has not been created already, and that is safe for children. There are many factors that go into the creation of a toy in order to engage a child to have fun while learning.