Samir Dhurde, IUCAA, Pune
for EyesonISON campaign
Strictly for educational purpose and not for commercial purpose by any means.
1. Making a comet model from a ping-pong ball.
Requirements :
* Ping pong sized plastic balls (cheap, coloured ones, need not be
the TT ones; 1 per model),
* Crepe Paper of various colours (to be cut into long strips),
* Some heavier paper (A4 printing paper will do),
* glue,
* scissors, and
* a hair dryer / fan (optional; one can blow air by mouth!)
Method:
Attach a few strips of crepe & heavier paper (say 7+3) to the ping pong
ball by glue. Blow air on it. Enjoy the Comet tails blow differently in the
Solar Wind!
2. Making a “play-poi” comet with ribbon tails attached.
Requirements:
+Some thick cloth pieces (from anything like old bedsheets,
curtains, socks etc.) to make a small pouch,
+ strong thread of 2 mm diameter (about 3 feet per poi),
+ coloured ribbon (used to tie hair or in PT by schoolkids; about 3
feet per poi),
+ scissors,
+ sewing thread,
+ needle, and
+ course sand (a handful)
Method:
Cut and sew cloth pieces into a pouch (triangular shape works best),
leaving the tip open (if using socks without holes, even this need not be
done). Fill sand in it. Put big knots at the end of the strong thread (or tie
something) and put that end into the tip of the pouch. Sew this end up.
On the opposite side, sew the colourful ribbon(s). Wrap the free end of
the strong thread and spin the “poi” around. Have fun! See how the
comet makes orbits due to the central force of your hand and how it’s tail
follows the same orbit at a proper speed.
Download Comet Craft.pdf (153kb)