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trick posts

Balancing acrobat Activity

by David Shaw, 23 September 2021 | 4 comments

a paper person, balancing on its head

This simple toy can balance on a table edge or a fingertip. So get your craft on and have some physics fun!

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Water balancing trick Activity

by David Shaw, 29 November 2018 | 0 comments

A five cent coin with a convex drop of blue water covering the surface.

Here’s a balancing game, but with a bit of practice you will always win! Why? Because you’ve set up a clever trick.

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Half of 12 brainteaser Brainteaser

by David Shaw, 16 May 2018 | 0 comments

Brain icon

You probably know that half of 12 is six. But the other day, I caught a glimpse of a clock peeking between buildings. At that moment, I noticed that sometimes, half of 12 is seven. How is this possible?

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Super strong pencil Activity

by David Shaw, 4 January 2017 | 0 comments

Someone is wrapping a yellow string around a pencil.

In this trick, you’ll wrap a shoelace around a pencil and a strip of cardboard. The string seems to pass straight through both, tearing the cardboard, but leaving the pencil untouched!

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Counting by division Activity

by David Shaw, 5 December 2016 | 0 comments

An electric calculator

Let’s look at a few interesting patterns you can get by dividing. Some of these patterns need a lot of digits, so get the best calculator you can find.

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Pool trick shots Activity

by David Shaw, 22 April 2014 | 1 comments

Six coloured balls form two v shapes pointing at each other.

It takes years of practice to get really good at pool or snooker. But with a bit of practice and a bit of maths, you should be able to pull off these pool trick shots no problem! Note: If you don’t know how to use a pool cue to hit balls, ask someone to teach…

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Bounce back Activity

by Jasmine Fellows, 17 January 2013 | 0 comments

Challenge your friend to bounce a ball across a table. With this one simple trick, you can get it to bounce back!

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