Books with author Michael A. DiSpezio

These simple, fun experiments in magnetism and electricity will get kids all charged up. Test out a kitchen magnet and watch what it attracts; "light the light" with a fluorescent bulb and a piece of wool; "see" invisible magnetic fields and find the strongest part of the magnet; paste things together with static glue; make your TV screen snap, crackle, and pop; and transmit Morse code with a station you build yourself. Almost all the materials are easy to find in the house or inexpensive to buy, and each experiment has a section that explains the underlying scientific principles--plus, they're all safe. This collection is absolutely electrifying!

These totally awesome, kid-friendly experiments teach the scientific basics of light and sound. And they're easy to carry out, using the most ordinary materials found around the house. Just grab a boom box, toilet paper tube, rubber band, or drinking straw to create a little smart magic. And it's fun to make cereal dance to the music and watch light bounce off a mirror and hit a bull's-eye. Hear your heart pumping through a funnel and tubing. Build a "ray maker" to display the visible spectrum of light in a glorious rainbow tray. These experiments will change the way you look and listen to the world around you!

"...Easy to duplicate, [these experiments] demonstrate the intended principles and encourage critical thinking. The author's style is lighthearted but clear."--School Library JournalThe force is with us--and these experiments prove it. Whether kids are creating soap-powered fish or sending potato pieces flying into the sky, every activity is as educational as it is entertaining. Demonstrate inertia with a super-amazing Card Shot trick that seems magical but is a simple matter of science. Locate the center of gravity by checking out where a cardboard rocket ship lands (there's a picture to trace to help you make the rocket), and create your own "great salt lake" in the kitchen to demonstrate buoyancy. Ordinary, easy-to-find materials are all you need to get moving on these fun-filled investigations.

Every image in this follow-up to Optical Illusion Magic is out to trick your perception with afterimages, visual “traps,” and distorted views. Sometimes you’ll have to shift the page to see the magic; in other illusions, pattern and shape make all the difference, producing spirals where none really exist. “A book with a fresh perspective, lots of scientific information, and hours of fun.” —School Library Journal. “Will entertain and educate.”—Booklist.

Cool distortions, a perplexing parallel pattern, afterimages, 3-D foolery, flip-flopping faces, and other optical illusions will “trick” you into seeing what isn’t there. “More complete and informative than most children’s books on the subject, this entertaining, enlightening volume will be helpful for projects and fun for browsing.”—Booklist. “High quality color photographs... simple language...fun to read.”—Mathematics Teacher.

You won't believe your eyes--and you shouldn't! Every image in this follow-up to the popular Optical Illusion Magic is out to fool your perception with afterimages, visual "traps," and distorted views. Sometimes you'll have to shift the page to see the magic, as in "Slants on the Side" where parallel lines seem to come together at the bottom and spread apart at the top. In other "tricks," pattern and shape make all the difference, producing spirals where they don't really exist. And there are a few really funny signs: look at them carefully and see if you can spot the errors. Bet you can't!

Cool distortions, a perplexing parallel pattern, afterimages, 3-D foolery, a shady comparison, imaginary interference, flip flopping faces, and other optical illusions will "trick" you into seeing what isn't there! There's one thing you can be sure of, when it comes to optical illusions: appearances are always deceiving! The author lives in North Falmouth, CA. 80 pages (all in color), 10 x 10.