Best Selling Books by Ed Sobey

With more than 160 entries detailing everything from the junk buried in desk drawers to that mysterious box blinking away in the coat closet, this practical guide navigates through modern office technology. Each entry includes a functional description of a device (what it is and how it works) as well as particulars on who invented it and how its design has evolved over the years. Devices are grouped according to their habitats—in the conference room, hanging from the ceiling, or connected to a computer—to assist in quick and easy identification. Solving office mysteries, such as why telephone keypads have their ones in the upper left corner while calculator keypads place the ones in the lower left corner, this fascinating resource decodes the often confusing technological landscapes of everyday offices.

Illustrating how a fire alarm detects smoke and what the "plasma" is in a plasma screen television, this fascinating handbook explains how everyday household devices function and operate. More than 180 different household technologies are covered, including gadgets unique to apartment buildings and houseboats. Devices are grouped according to their "habitats"—the living room, family room, den, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and basement—and feature a detailed description of what the device does and how it works, as well as a photograph for easy identification. With helpful sidebars describing related technical issues, such as why a cheap dimmer switch can interfere with radio reception, this handbook for curious readers provides carefully detailed descriptions and the history behind many of the older household technologies like toasters and faucets to newer technologies like motion detectors, TiVo, and satellite radio.

Written for mechanical novices who may not know their catalytic converters from their universal joints, this practical guide helps teach a basic understanding of how automobiles function. Devices are grouped according to their habitats - under the hood, inside the car, and more - to help identify the technology in question. Solving automotive puzzles such as where exactly does a dipstick dip and what is rack and pinion steering, this handy reference illuminates what''s going on under the hood without all that grime and grease.

This fascinating handbook answers the questions of anyone who has ever wondered about the many strange devices found along the roadside, from utility poles to satellite dishes. Devices are grouped according to their habitats—along highways and roads, atop buildings, near airports, and on utility towers. More than 150 different roadside technologies are covered, and each detailed entry describes what the device does, how it works, and also includes a photograph for easy identification. With helpful sidebars describing related technical issues such as why stoplights are constructed with the red light on top, this handbook for curious readers provides carefully detailed descriptions and the history behind many of the devices that roadside travelers take for granted.

If you''ve ever wondered how a microwave heats food, or why aluminum foil is shiny on one side and dull on the other, or whether it is better to use cold or hot water in a garbage disposal, you should read The Way Kitchens Work. Modern kitchens are hi-tech marvels, with more machinery than any other room in the house. Each of the 50+ entries includes its history, interesting trivia, and a discussion of the technology involved. Readers will also enjoy reviewing the utensils'' and appliances'' original patent blueprints, as well as photos of the "guts" of these culinary tools. The author even includes odd side stories, such as how the waffle iron played a role in the founding of Nike, how you can reset a turkey timer, and why socialite Josephine Cochran really invented the dishwasher in 1886--it wasn''t because she wanted to ease the burden of her servants, but because she wanted a device that would avoid the unsightly chips associated with hand washing. And finally, for those whose stovetop skills are still in development, Sobey provides information on the invention and use of the smoke detector and hand-held fire extinguisher.

If you''ve ever wondered how an Etch A Sketch writes on its gray screen, or why a boomerang comes back, or how an R/C car responds to a radio controller, now you''ll have your answers. The Way Toys Work explains the technology, history, and trivia behind 50 popular toys, with patent blueprints and photos of the "guts" of devices including: * Kaleidoscope * Magna Doodle * Slinky * Nintendo * Super Soaker * Big Mouth Billy Bass * Rubik''s Cube * Silly Putty * Video Game Light Gun * Furby * Dunking Bird * View-Master * Yo-Yo * Push ''n'' Go Car * Wiffle Ball * Gyroscope * Operation * Hula Hoop You''ll also find pointers on how to build your own versions using recycled materials and a little ingenuity, experiments that can be done with certain toys, and tips on reverse engineering old toys to get a better look at their interior mechanics. The only thing you won''t learn is how the Magic 8 Ball is able to predict the future--some things are best left a mystery.

Helps children gain experience through experimenting, designing, building, and testing models to develop inventions.

Admit it: you love to explore how things work. Screwdriver and pliers in hand, no castoff electronics or old appliances are safe. But once you''ve pulled apart your prey, do you really just want to screw it back together again . . . assuming you could? Unscrewed is the perfect resource for all UIYers—Undo It Yourselfers—looking to salvage hidden treasures or repurpose old junk. Author Ed Sobey will show you how to safely disassemble more than 50 devices, including: Laser Printer, Radio-Controlled Car, Zip Drive, Videocassette Recorder, Paper Shredder, Audiocassette Player, Electric Drill, Computer Mouse, Keyboard, Fax Machine, Joystick, Floppy Drive, Videocassette Camera, Electric Clock, and More! Each deconstruction project includes a "treasure cache" of the components to be found, a required tools list, and step-by-step instructions, with photos, on how to extract the working components. It also includes suggestions on how to repurpose your electronic finds. Why pay good money to an electronics store when you probably already have what you need in that old VCR, printer, or hair dryer? Fight the mindset of planned obsolescence—there''s technological gold in that there junk!

"Presents several science projects dealing with electric motors"--Provided by publisher.

Give renewable energy a try! Solar, wind, and hydropower can be used to offset the use of fossil fuels. The projects in this book teach young readers about solar cells, electricity, and energy. Experiment with simple ways of using renewable energy to power different devices. Many experiments include ideas you can use for your own science fair projects.

(Second Edition) Are you considering buying an electric vehicle? All of us are witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. For over one hundred years, gasoline and diesel fuels have powered ground transportation throughout the world. Now that is changing, and 2023 is the year when most people will recognize that change is happening. This book is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand overview of the passenger EV universe including guides for buying and owning an electric car. The authors discuss choosing, owning and driving an electric car, then explain the features, advantages, benefits and limitations of over 45 EV models including pickup trucks, SUVs, and sedans. "If you have to have a car, make it an electric car. As this book makes clear, they are better than old-fashion vehicles in every way." -Bill McKibben, American environmentalist and climate change authority; co-founded 350.org and spearheaded the fossil fuel divestment campaign resulting in endowments worth more than $15 trillion stepping back from oil, gas and coal. "Thankfully, now that the electric vehicle R&D "dark ages" are coming to an end and automakers around the world are charging up their EV programs, there''s no doubt that we''re about to see massive, valuable change in our transportation landscape." -Sebastian Blanco, one of America''s leading electric car journalists who has been writing about EVs since 2006.

Design and build your own robots, RC cars, motors, and more with these prize-winning science fair ideas!

"Presents several science projects dealing with robots"--Provided by publisher.

How does a radio-controlled car work? Author Ed Sobey guides readers as they take apart and rebuild their own radio-controlled car. In the process readers will also learn about radio waves, acceleration, towing capacity, battery voltage, and more! Many experiments include ideas you can use for your own science fair projects.

There''s more than one way to power a toy boat. Electric motors, balloons, gears, water jets, belt drives, chemical reactions, steam, and even gravity can be used to propel a small ship across a pool. Also, the boats'' propellers and paddles can be side-mounted or at the stern, or even sit above the waterline, like a fan-powered swamp boat. The Motorboat Book will show children how to build more than 20 different models through step-by-step instructions with clear photos. And if they''d rather travel under the water than over it, the book has 6 different submarine projects. In addition to the boatbuilding activities, author Ed Sobey includes instructions on how to build an "ocean" to test the boats, as well as accessories such as four different water pumps, waterproof battery and motor cases, and a working foghorn. Most of the boats are built from recycled and easy-to-find materials, but an appendix lists local and online sources for wire, plastic propellers, small motors, and more. Educators will appreciate the Meeting Science Standards summary at the end of the book.

Robotics is one of the hottest fields in STEM curriculum. Open students'' eyes to the field of professional robotic engineers. Readers will learn the basics from a real-life expert and get some hands-on epxperience all in a digital format.

Rocket science is as cool as science gets, and your students get to design, build, and test rockets themselves. Their designs. Their innovations. Not students anymore, they are rocket scientists.