Robinson, Richard: Science Magic In the Living Room ©2001 Richard Robinson, Alladdin Paperbacks, NY Softcover, perfect-bound, 5.5x8.5", 96 pages ISBN 0-689-84334-8

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Comments: Originally published in Great Britain by Oxford Publishing Ltd as Science Magic: Laboratory in the Living Room. A children's book with magic tricks based on science, and some explanations of the science behind them. Part of a series of four, the others being Science Magic In the Bathroom, Science Magic in the Bedroom, and Science Magic in the Kitchen.

Contents:

6 Introduction

8 Chapter One In the Living Room
10 Thrilling Drilling: a glass penetrates a table top
12 Newton and the Apple: on gravity
13 Galileo Drops the Ball: more history
14 The Gravity of the Situation: paper and coin hit the ground at the same time
17 Brain Baffler: gun trajectory riddle

18 Chapter Two Centers of Gravity
20 Bottle Balance: a bottle balances in an odd way
22 The Come Back Can: a can rolls the wrong way
24 Flutter By, Butterfly: Butterfly hovers in mid air
26 Pin Headstand: balancing forks
27 Central Issues: more history
29 Up Dog: paper dog sits up and begs

32 Chapter Three Inertia
33 Book Hypnotism: paper is pulled from under books
35 The Elbow Snatch: catching coins from the elbow
36 Checker Sorting: rapid-fire
36 Arrest That Card!: chosen card flies back
39 First Cup in Orbit: cup of water spun without spilling a drop
41 Why the Toast Always Lands Butter Side Down

42 Chapter 4 Magic In Your Bones
43 Four Ways You Can't Keep Up: physical stunts
45 Ears Where You Are: balance
48 Arm Levitation: arm goes up by itself

49 Chapter Five Friction Non Friction
51 A Gripping Story: more about friction
52 Drop Stopper: a ball on a string drops only on command
54 Bewildering Bottle Stopper: a bottle is picked up with a pencil
55 Sticking to the Ruler: fingers meet in the middle
57 Invisible Card Trick: making your own invisible deck
60 Acrobatic Aces: card pops out of glass
62 Sticking Point - Glues
63 Bigger Than This: Jumbo card revelation

65 Chapter Six Calculated Cunning
66 Handy Calculator: 9 times table with fingers
67 The Finger Computer: times tables between six and 10
68 The Pocket Calculator
68 - Fractionally Out: check your calculator for accuracy
68 - Fuels Paradise: spelling words with your calculator
70 Date Data: magician determines a date
71 Mad Math: 8 math riddles

74 Chapter Seven Eye Boggling TV
75 Finding the Right Word: a book test
78 Seeing Around Corners: optical illusion
79 Dots Amazing: on the light spectrum
82 Eyes: on the construction of the eye
83 Peripheral Vision: a color test
84 Multicolored Milk: Glass of water changes from blue to red by adding milk

86 Chapter Eight On Reflection
87 Two You: mirror stunt
88 Symmetry: facts
89 Floating Art: another mirror stunt
90 Less is More or Less The Same: more mirror fun
92 Choice Dice: wordplay with a mirror
94 How to Get Away With Being Late For Science Lessons
96 Lord of the Skies: a bonus trick from Science in the Bedroom