The William W. Larsen Memorial Library

Martin Gardner’s Science Tricks

Author/Editor: Gardner, Martin

WATER
Cartesian Matches
The Gorilla Effect
Somersault Shell
Two 10-Cent Betchas
A Water Transfer
Water Level Riddle
Two Corking Good Challenges
The Dancing Triangle
The Marble and the Cork
How to Measure Volume
Three Jets

AIR
Invisible Glue
Three for Bernoulli
A Blow for Bernoulli
The Mysterious Balloon
The Unbreakable Balloon

FIRE
Candle Seesaw
Miniature Rocket
Light from the Wrong End

HEAT
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Psychic Motor?
The Twisty Snake

GRAVITY
A Snap and a Drop
The Biased Penny
Balancing Silverware
Make a Magic Bird
Three Drop Tasks

MOTION AND INERTIA
The Falling Keys
Roly-Poly Folder
Stabbing an Eggshell
The Waltzing Eggshell
Puzzling Quarters
Bottle, Hoop, and Dime
Rotating Egg
The Rising Marble
Pool Hustler Scam
Which Thread?
Transporting an Olive
The Frustrating Papers
Swinging Cups

FRICTION
Balancing a Book
Climbing Bear
Curious Feedbacks

MAGNETISM
The Levitated Paper Clip
Floating Paper Cup
Psychokinesis?
Pill Bottle and Paper Clip

ELECTRICITY
Sneaky Switches
Electric Pickle
The Human Battery

LIGHT
Colored Shadows
A Mirror Paradox
The Pulfrich Illusion
Retinal Retention
A Blacklight Code
A QM Paradox
Another Mirror Paradox
Blacker Than Black

SENSORY ILLUSIONS
A Square that Ain’t There
Where Does the Water Go?
The Enchanted Die
Left or Right Eyed?
The Bent Playing Card
Zombie Glass
An Illusion of Weight
Magnetized Pencils?
The Puzzling Snap
Touching Hands
Funny Brush-Off
Sloping Teeth
Multiplying Marbles

PROBABILITY
Whirling Wire
The Bunch Effect
A Probability Swindle
Surprising Dice Bet
Are You Psychic?

DOLLAR BILLS
Linking Paper Clips
See George Smile and Frown
Put George to Sleep
Turn George Upside Down
Support a Glass
The Balanced Half Dollar
How Many Eyes?
Blow It Over