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The Mystery Sticks may seem like a magic trick, but they are strange toys that have interesting physics behind them. The concept of the Mystery Stick has been around for many years and has many varied models.
Materials:
1. Wooden stick
2. Nail
3. Container
How it works
1. Hold stick firmly. Hold finger against left edge of notches.
2. Hold finger against left edge of notches while rapidly rubbing stick up and down on notches. Prop will turn clockwise.
3. While still rubbing wand on notches simply move hand to the left causing finger to move away and thumb to rub against right edge of notches. Prop will change to counterclockwise direction.
What is the physics behind it?
-The 'Mystery Sticks' are based on Simple Harmonic Motion, it's a motion in which the restoring force is proportional to the displacement. The 'Mystery Sticks' move with an angular velocity around a circle that is centered at the origin of the x and y plane. So by touching the left side of the propeller, while moving the wand in an up and down motion, it oscillates the propeller to go clockwise in a circular motion. This is also the case for touching the right side of the stick. The angular frequency from touching the finger to the right side causes the propeller to rotate in a circular motion counter clock wise.
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