# What is this toy and how does it work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030 "2018-12-13T01:49:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/1 "2018-12-13T01:49:10Z")
[Relevant pictures](https://imgur.com/a/tmO5Otb) I get that it is some kind of desk display thing where the wheel spins and the whole thing spins around. Something like that. But how do the batteries figure into this thing? It has - 4 AA batteries in the base - two magnets(1 on the bottom of the metal thing and one kind of on the top) - No on-off switch - No connection to the metal & magnet spinning wheel. The arms holding it up are plastic. How does this thing work? What do the batteries have to do with it? I have batteries in and…it does not appear to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/2 "2018-12-13T01:54:38Z")
I think it’s a clock. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/3 "2018-12-13T01:55:44Z")
> > [@](#): > > They use batteries and electromagnets. They are NOT perpetual motion devices. They just run a very long (too damn long) time on a battery. > > The lower end of the pendulum may have a permanent magnet. The base MUST use an electromagnet because it has to be turned on and off in time to the pendulum motion to keep it running. > > The electromagnet is turned on for a short period the either pull the pendulum closer or to push it away. This action makes up for energy lost in the friction of the bearings and with the air. > Without the energy supplied by the battery, it would stop moving. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/4 "2018-12-13T01:57:13Z")
[Fan-shaped Dolphin Kinetic Desk Toy Electronic Perpetual Swing Motion Art Office Decoration](https://www.gearbest.com/crafts/pp_341245.html) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/5 "2018-12-13T02:20:02Z")
Yeah, I think it is a ‘Perpetual’ motion thing. Of course that’s not possible. We did just replace a C battery in a regulator clock with a pendulum. Keeps excellent time with the pendulum moved by electro magnets. Last replaced the battery in 2005. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/6 "2018-12-13T02:29:30Z")
I took out the batteries and put them back in to make sure they are in correctly. They must have been off a bit. Yeah…it works now. It kind of just swings endlessly. Thanks. I knew what it was, but I think I didn’t realize the batteries were in wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/7 "2018-12-13T02:32:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > it does not appear to do anything. That’s the beauty of it! ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/8 "2018-12-13T02:38:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That’s the beauty of it! It’s a thing about nothing! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/9 "2018-12-13T13:55:22Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > …it does not appear to do anything. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That’s the beauty of it! A most appropriate item for the desk of many managers! ---
**Author:** ![icbm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@icbm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icbm)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/10 "2018-12-14T15:59:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Fan-shaped Dolphin Kinetic Desk Toy Electronic Perpetual Swing Motion Art Office Decoration](https://www.gearbest.com/crafts/pp_341245.html) I give up, I can’t find the dolphin. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/11 "2018-12-14T16:22:15Z")
> [@icbm](#): > > I give up, I can’t find the dolphin. While not closely related, dolphins and porpoises share a physical resemblance that often leads to misidentification. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/12 "2018-12-14T16:31:59Z")
You want something that: - doesn’t appear to do anything - can sit on a manager’s desk - provides endless fun Here it is! ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/13 "2018-12-15T02:34:57Z")
"_It went “Zip” when it moved And “Bop” when it stopped And “Whirrr” when it stood still I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will."_ ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/14 "2018-12-15T04:54:49Z")
> [@glee](#): > > You want something that: > > - doesn’t appear to do anything > - can sit on a manager’s desk > - provides endless fun > > Here it is! I was positive this was going to be a picture of a secretary from a 1960s movie. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/15 "2018-12-15T05:26:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > While not closely related, dolphins and porpoises share a physical resemblance that often leads to misidentification. I didn’t know that Orcas **are** members of the dolphin family until hearing it during this : [footage of a New Zealand woman swimming with them.](https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/killer-whales-surround-new-zealand-woman-in-stunning-drone-footage/news-story/203064089c7c45e4033995181bc325e6) Explaining that she as in no real danger: > [@](#): > > These sea creatures are “just big dolphins with a fancy paint job,” orca expert Regina Eisert told 1 NEWS, adding they are the largest members of the dolphin family. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/16 "2018-12-15T13:00:20Z")
You might or might not get excited hearing this, but it really is kind of beautiful: your contraption is, in essence, a magnetic sculpture mounted over a wire coil connected to a resistance that is negative. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/17 "2018-12-18T15:50:38Z")
> [@glee](#): > > You want something that: > > - doesn’t appear to do anything > - can sit on a manager’s desk > - provides endless fun > > Here it is! [My favorite version of the “Useless Box”](https://youtu.be/tGCW8xftdOA). ---
**Author:** ![icbm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@icbm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icbm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-toy-and-how-does-it-work/826030/18 "2018-12-19T01:29:42Z")
I really love the multi-switch version. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Djc8FPHs45o/hqdefault.jpg "Useless machine advanced edition") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djc8FPHs45o)