Thursday 19 May 2011

How Machines Work : Sketches

Sketches of items for the How Machines Work timeline. Click to see bigger.

How Machines Work : Timeline

One of the most fun & interesting parts of the How Machines Work book project was working on a timeline which runs throughout the book. I produced around 60 illustrations showing how the different types of simple machine have been applied throughout history. Here is a small preview showing a Steam Engine with Sun & Planet gears (gears), Rack Railway (Rack & Pinion), Mesopotamian Wheel (axle), Corkscrew (Rack & Pinion), Rollercoaster (Ratchet), & Sumerian Potters Wheel (axle).



How Machines Work published by Running Press Kids October 2011.

Wednesday 18 May 2011

How Machines Work : Pulley

You know all about pulleys right?  This illustration demonstrates how a compound pulley system is used by a crane. Find out more in How Machines Work.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

How Machines Work

Earlier in the year I spent a good few months learning all about cranks, levers, pulleys, axles and other simple machines and mechanisms. If you want to learn all about this stuff too then maybe you should check out  How Machines Work , commissioned by Quarto books and published by Running Press Kids this October. How Machines Work is written by Nick Arnold, author of the best-selling Horrible Science series, and illustrated by myself. This book will not only tell you everything you need to know about machines but also give you a chance to build working models yourself.

Below is a small preview of the kind of thing you can find in the book.



Above:   An example of two simple machines.

Pre order on Amazon UK US