What's In the Box Making it Spin? There Are No Moving Parts

So it's magnets of course. But how exactly? What's the mechanism?

Here's that instrucbles project if you want to make one yourself:

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[adamplace]

This is what happens when a smart and funny person has had some time away. Steve saved all the jokes and sight gags he's built up over the holidays just for this. Great stuff sir.

[tonyterpstra]

"Seeing yourself in a mirror dressed as a ballerina fills you with so much joy that you simply start to rotate" is a legitimate first hypothesis, and I'm so glad you tested it thoroughly before moving on to another one. 🤣

[chiepah]

"The energy to dance like a ballerina comes from within." Steve Mould 2022

[GadgetAddict]

I've never seen a toy like this. It's so simple but produces a great effect 👍

[danoconnell]

The cut to Steve stuck to the mirror made me laugh way too hard. Was just grateful I didn't have a mouthful of coffee.

[Panda_Gibs]

I remember getting a similar phenomenon playing with lego pieces that had integrated magnets. I never quite figured out the necessary parts of the arrangement to get them to work. Thank you for showing this!

[dontmindme]

It's rare that I laugh this much from anything like a YouTube video. These videos have such a quality to them, both presentation- and information-wise!

[HowToSpacic]

I love how Steve did a real life demonstration of what the ballerina toy was doing.

[prenestina]

I didn't see enough appreciation of "a quarter τ radians" rotation at 0:39, so I'm writing this to support your rightful use of tau instead of pi, Steve!

[JordanBurghoff]

I was literally scheming a plan for a perpetual motion machine just before you mentioned how that couldn’t work. I’ve never been so excited to make something and so disappointed in such a short span of time.

[mk_rexx]

Steve really find a ballerina toy, study how it works, and produce an "educational" video just as an excuse to film himself dancing in a skirt in front of a mirror. Even got KiwiCo to sponsor the video.

[dvdemon]

This is a brilliant little thing.
The thing itself and the mechanics involved are simple enough, but it takes a genius coming up with something like this little toy.

[vividandlucid]

I really love how you combine science talk with your wonderful (British) humour, makes it SO much more interesting to watch!

[tlniec]

Even if you already know how the ballerina works, watching Steve test alternate hypotheses is well worth it!

[JohnBaleshiski]

OMG, I *LOVE* the shots of you as a ballerina. Absolutely hilarious. Thanks for having self-esteem and a sense of humor.

[zuLess]

the level of dad humor makes my head spin

[Prawnsly]

If I were Steve's kids I would be so proud and so embarrassed of my dad.

[That_Freedom_Guy]

I feel that the beauty and elegance of your ballet was taking away from the lesson. Thanks Steve.

[humanrightsadvocate]

But, the simplicity of this toy is just GENIUS!

[idforchrome]

I thought i have watched only 15 seconds of the video, it was actually 90 seconds passed.
This shows how much mental effort you have put to make this video.
Amazing.