This is a unique science demonstration that always takes people by surprise. It consists of 4 rubber balls loosly stacked on a central post. When dropped to the floor, large amounts of energy are transferred to the top ball and it quickly accelerates 5 times higher than the height you dropped it! It's what the science world calls a Multiple Collision Accelerator. Or, as it's creator, Sterling Colgate says,

"AstroBlaster™ illustrates the laws of conservation of momentum and energy during the creation of a supernova (an old star, that having exhausted its nuclear fuel, collapses upon itself in less than a second). A shock wave speeds outward from the center through the collapsed material, moving faster and faster as it reaches less dense layers toward the surface, The shock wave accelerates an outermost thin layer of the collapsed star to relativistic speeds, creating 'cosmic rays' that spread throughout out the galaxy."

Includes safety glasses and 2 extra red balls. For ages 8 and up with adult supervision.