Stories about How Things Work

How does an airplane fly?

A plane is huge and heavy — so how does it leave the ground and stay way up in the sky?

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How does a car move?

Turn the key, press the pedal, and off you go — but what makes a car roll down the road?

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How do big ships float?

A tiny pebble sinks, but a giant steel ship floats — how can something so heavy stay on top of the water?

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How does a bicycle stay up?

A bike balances on two skinny wheels — but only when it is moving. Here is the rolling secret.

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How does a clock tell time?

A clock keeps perfect time by counting tiny, steady beats — over and over, all day long.

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How does a light bulb work?

Flick a switch and the room lights up — but what is really happening inside that little glass bulb?

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How does a fridge keep food cold?

A fridge does not make cold — it carries the warmth out. Here is how it whisks heat away from your milk.

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How does a phone let us talk?

Your voice turns into a secret code that zooms across the world and back into sound in a blink.

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How does a train stay on the track?

A train can't steer like a car, yet it never falls off — clever wheels keep it on the rails.

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How does a camera take photos?

A camera catches light and freezes a moment so you can keep it forever — here's the trick.

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How do magnets work?

Magnets pull on metal with an invisible force — and sometimes they push each other away!

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How does a zipper work?

A zip joins two sides with a row of tiny teeth — and a clever little slider does all the magic.

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What is electricity?

An invisible push that races down wires and brings your lights, screens and toys to life.

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How does the internet work?

When you watch a video or message a friend, tiny messages zoom around the world in a blink.

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