https://notjustbecause.com Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/not-just-because-physics Physical science for kids around 7 to 10, exploring forces, energy, space, and matter with vivid examples, plain language, and honest curiosity. ©2026 Mutual Pledge Incorporated 94400a6f-8ec3-5e12-8155-a7e164f299e1 yes en Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:51:49 -0800 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:52:08 -0800 https://img.transistorcdn.com/2lUaQhK2E9sWXdyO-1WxEwXaDgRpC2dfCbMSIQ8KKsg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yYzcy/NjdiMjBkM2QxMmMy/NDBhNjYxMjQzYjU1/MDk3ZC5qcGc.jpg https://notjustbecause.com episodic Mutual Pledge Incorporated Physical science for kids around 7 to 10, exploring forces, energy, space, and matter with vivid examples, plain language, and honest curiosity. Physical science for kids around 7 to 10, exploring forces, energy, space, and matter with vivid examples, plain language, and honest curiosity.. Education, Kids, Physics, Science, Energy, Space FIXME brendan@mutualpledge.com No No 18 18 How Does a Microwave Heat Food? full 8c4354ee-d7a1-44b4-a557-18717127d30d https://share.transistor.fm/s/c05c45c1 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:51:44 -0800 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 800 Microwave ovens warm food by sending in energy that makes its tiny particles move and interact. Water plays a big part, but heating also depends on the food’s ingredients, shape, and size. Uneven leftovers, hot bowls, and the meaning of radiation reveal why microwave cooking is more complicated than heating from the inside out. Microwave ovens warm food by sending in energy that makes its tiny particles move and interact. Water plays a big part, but heating also depends on the food’s ingredients, shape, and size. Uneven leftovers, hot bowls, and the meaning of radiation reveal w how does a microwave heat food, microwave heat food for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 17 17 Why Are Soap Bubbles Round? full 46e4f386-ccec-45af-8bf7-39ee6f673e89 https://share.transistor.fm/s/72b38f06 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:50:26 -0800 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 807 Soap bubbles become round because their thin liquid surfaces pull toward a shape with less surface area. For the same amount of enclosed space, a sphere needs the smallest surface. Air pressure helps balance that pull, while bubble wands, neighboring bubbles, wind, and gravity can change the shape. Soap bubbles become round because their thin liquid surfaces pull toward a shape with less surface area. For the same amount of enclosed space, a sphere needs the smallest surface. Air pressure helps balance that pull, while bubble wands, neighboring bubb why are soap bubbles round, soap bubbles round for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 16 16 Why Does a Spinning Top Stay Upright? full 36371b83-948b-4701-aa39-0fb81116e6cb https://share.transistor.fm/s/ce18f252 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:47:39 -0800 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 797 A spinning top stays upright because its turning motion changes how it responds to gravity. Angular momentum, a circling motion called precession, and the slow loss of spin explain its balancing act—and why it eventually wobbles and falls. A spinning top stays upright because its turning motion changes how it responds to gravity. Angular momentum, a circling motion called precession, and the slow loss of spin explain its balancing act—and why it eventually wobbles and falls. why does a spinning top stay upright, spinning top stay upright for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 15 15 Why Does Your Shadow Change Size? full f05394d8-19ca-46ec-992b-2c5aab2e5d63 https://share.transistor.fm/s/77187114 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:46:43 -0800 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 795 A shadow can stretch across a playground or grow huge on a wall without the object making it changing at all. Light paths explain why a nearby flashlight can make giant shadows, while the Sun’s changing height in the sky makes outdoor shadows longer or shorter. A shadow can stretch across a playground or grow huge on a wall without the object making it changing at all. Light paths explain why a nearby flashlight can make giant shadows, while the Sun’s changing height in the sky makes outdoor shadows longer or sh why does your shadow change size, your shadow change size for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 14 14 What Does a Mirror Actually Reverse? full 8e19fa89-d7e5-48df-9de5-eb3ed31db936 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b0c38776 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:46:00 -0800 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 762 A flat mirror reverses the direction into and out of its surface—not automatically left and right. Hand movements, imagined arrows, and bouncing light reveal why a reflection seems to face the opposite way and why writing looks backward. The explanation also uncovers why a mirror image appears behind the glass. A flat mirror reverses the direction into and out of its surface—not automatically left and right. Hand movements, imagined arrows, and bouncing light reveal why a reflection seems to face the opposite way and why writing looks backward. The explanation a what does a mirror actually reverse, mirror actually reverse for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 13 13 The Cold Spoon Trick: Metal, Wood, and Heat full 8219391e-1691-43eb-be8d-afcb7a49bd1a https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260905-the-cold-spoon-trick-metal-wood-and-heat Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:02:53 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 439 Two objects share the same room and the same temperature, yet a metal spoon feels much colder than a wooden one. The secret isn't temperature at all—it's how fast each material pulls heat away from a warm hand. This mix-up explains why pots get metal bodies but wooden handles, and why cozy homes need good insulation. Two objects share the same room and the same temperature, yet a metal spoon feels much colder than a wooden one. The secret isn't temperature at all—it's how fast each material pulls heat away from a warm hand. This mix-up explains why pots get metal bodi the cold spoon trick metal wood and heat, metal wood and heat for kids, physics why does metal feel colder than wood, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 12 12 Blue Skies and Pink Sunsets: The Great Light Bounce full 804cedf3-b3f0-4b53-88bf-7d3a5325e4d1 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260902-blue-skies-and-pink-sunsets-the-great-light-bounce Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:20:07 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 481 Sunlight looks white, but it's secretly a whole rainbow packed together—and tiny bits of air fling the blue part all over the sky. That's why noon looks blue and sunsets glow orange and pink, all explained with bouncing balls, glitter in water, and light taking the long way through the air. Simple, everyday physics with a big 'wow' at the end. Sunlight looks white, but it's secretly a whole rainbow packed together—and tiny bits of air fling the blue part all over the sky. That's why noon looks blue and sunsets glow orange and pink, all explained with bouncing balls, glitter in water, and light blue skies and pink sunsets the great light bounce, great light bounce for kids, why the sky looks blue in the daytime and why sunsets turn orange and pink, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 11 11 Why Do Some Things Float and Others Sink? full c6ce1484-e6c4-46d6-b9a2-afa5b0b8a82f https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260713-why-do-some-things-float-and-others-sink Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:24:47 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 633 A steel ship weighing thousands of tons floats, but a tiny steel marble sinks straight to the bottom — what's going on? This episode unpacks density, buoyancy, and the upward push of water, using everyday objects like clay, oranges, and soda cans to show why some things stay on top and others plunge. A steel ship weighing thousands of tons floats, but a tiny steel marble sinks straight to the bottom — what's going on? This episode unpacks density, buoyancy, and the upward push of water, using everyday objects like clay, oranges, and soda cans to show why do some things float and others sink, some things float and others sink for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 10 10 What Is Gravity, and Why Does Everything Fall Down? full c80fefc7-8247-46c9-bd85-4a7b5464779d https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260713-what-is-gravity-and-why-does-everything-fall-down Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:24:42 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 639 Every time you drop a ball, trip on a step, or watch rain fall from the sky, gravity is at work — but what actually is it? This episode unpacks why objects pull on each other, how mass and distance change that pull, and what would happen if gravity suddenly switched off. Every time you drop a ball, trip on a step, or watch rain fall from the sky, gravity is at work — but what actually is it? This episode unpacks why objects pull on each other, how mass and distance change that pull, and what would happen if gravity sudden what is gravity and why does everything fall down, gravity and why does everything fall down for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 9 9 The Mighty Lever and the Powerful Pulley full f46db6dc-febc-4524-928b-4e5b3a99ce48 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260713-the-mighty-lever-and-the-powerful-pulley Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:21:21 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 635 A single human can lift a grand piano — if they have the right simple machine. Levers, pulleys, and ramps trade distance for force, letting people move loads far heavier than their own muscles could handle alone. A single human can lift a grand piano — if they have the right simple machine. Levers, pulleys, and ramps trade distance for force, letting people move loads far heavier than their own muscles could handle alone. the mighty lever and the powerful pulley, mighty lever and the powerful pulley for kids, how do simple machines like levers and pulleys help us lift heavy things, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 8 8 Why Rainbows Wear Seven Stripes full 5bcc174a-43ba-48a8-a99b-aeafe1810a62 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260626-why-rainbows-wear-seven-stripes Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:31:36 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 615 Sunlight looks white, but it secretly carries every color mixed together — and a raindrop can split them apart. This episode traces the path of a single beam of light as it enters a water droplet, bends, bounces off the back wall, and fans ... Sunlight looks white, but it secretly carries every color mixed together — and a raindrop can split them apart. This episode traces the path of a single beam of light as it enters a water droplet, bends, bounces off the back wall, and fans ... why rainbows wear seven stripes, why rainbows wear seven stripes for kids, how do rainbows form and why do they have those colors, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 7 7 Why Do Magnets Stick to Some Metals but Not Others? full 1773a69e-c55f-4074-af2c-27ef9cab7952 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260626-why-do-magnets-stick-to-some-metals-but-not-others Sun, 24 May 2026 00:21:04 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 663 Magnets cling fiercely to a steel fridge but slide right off an aluminum can—what makes one metal magnetic and another completely indifferent? The answer lives deep inside atoms, where tiny spinning electrons either team up or cancel each o... Magnets cling fiercely to a steel fridge but slide right off an aluminum can—what makes one metal magnetic and another completely indifferent? The answer lives deep inside atoms, where tiny spinning electrons either team up or cancel each o... why do magnets stick to some metals but not others, magnets stick to some metals but not others for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 6 6 What Is Sound, and Why Does It Travel Faster in Water? full 66eacb1f-18df-45d9-817a-795973bfb924 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260626-what-is-sound-and-why-does-it-travel-faster-in-water Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:10:32 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 635 Sound is really just a wave of tiny pushes rippling through stuff — air, water, even solid steel. But why does that wave zip through water almost five times faster than through air? The answer comes down to how tightly packed the molecules ... Sound is really just a wave of tiny pushes rippling through stuff — air, water, even solid steel. But why does that wave zip through water almost five times faster than through air? The answer comes down to how tightly packed the molecules ... what is sound and why does it travel faster in water, sound and why does it travel faster in water for kids, what is sound and why does it travel faster in water than in air, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 5 5 Why Do Planets Go Around the Sun? full a0f8b2d7-e71f-4c8f-8072-08ef94d12559 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260319-why-do-planets-go-around-the-sun Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 638 Earth hurtles around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour yet never flies off into the void—so what keeps it locked in that endless loop? This episode unpacks the invisible pull of gravity, using analogies like marbles on a stretchy trampoline ... Earth hurtles around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour yet never flies off into the void—so what keeps it locked in that endless loop? This episode unpacks the invisible pull of gravity, using analogies like marbles on a stretchy trampoline ... why do planets go around the sun, planets go around the sun for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 4 4 Why Are Some Things Bouncy and Others Not? full 77edf2da-970f-4880-b8cf-7c8734657590 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260319-why-are-some-things-bouncy-and-others-not Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:59:59 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 689 Dropping a rubber ball sends it springing back into the air, but a lump of clay just hits the ground with a lifeless thud—so what makes the difference? The answer lies in elasticity: the ability of a material to deform under impact and then... Dropping a rubber ball sends it springing back into the air, but a lump of clay just hits the ground with a lifeless thud—so what makes the difference? The answer lies in elasticity: the ability of a material to deform under impact and then... why are some things bouncy and others not, some things bouncy and others not for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 3 3 What Makes the Sun Shine and Glow? full 7a025a08-d51a-47d4-9f81-3239f56243fa https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260319-what-makes-the-sun-shine-and-glow Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:59:58 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 636 The Sun has been shining for four and a half billion years, far too long to be explained by any ordinary fire—so what actually powers it? Starting from the ancient guess that the Sun was a giant lump of burning coal, the episode traces how ... The Sun has been shining for four and a half billion years, far too long to be explained by any ordinary fire—so what actually powers it? Starting from the ancient guess that the Sun was a giant lump of burning coal, the episode traces how ... what makes the sun shine and glow, what makes the sun shine and glow for kids, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 2 2 What Is Electricity? How Does It Power Things? full 60f8ec51-57b9-491c-a336-3fee1a286add https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260319-what-is-electricity-how-does-it-power-things Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:59:57 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 716 Electricity powers nearly everything in modern life—lights, phones, fridges—yet it remains invisible and deeply mysterious to most people. Starting at the atomic level, this episode unpacks what electricity actually is, what's physically mo... Electricity powers nearly everything in modern life—lights, phones, fridges—yet it remains invisible and deeply mysterious to most people. Starting at the atomic level, this episode unpacks what electricity actually is, what's physically mo... what is electricity how does it power things, electricity how does it power things for kids, what is electricity, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No 1 1 What Is a Battery? Can I Make One at Home? full d457baa1-33dd-4fc3-adf5-989448b1fec3 https://notjustbecause.com/shows/not-just-because/not-just-because-physics/20260319-what-is-a-battery-can-i-make-one-at-home Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:59:56 -0700 Mutual Pledge Incorporated Mutual Pledge Incorporated 731 Batteries power nearly everything in daily life, but what's actually happening inside those little tubes of stored energy? This episode breaks down the chemistry of how electrons get pushed through a circuit, why batteries eventually die, a... Batteries power nearly everything in daily life, but what's actually happening inside those little tubes of stored energy? This episode breaks down the chemistry of how electrons get pushed through a circuit, why batteries eventually die, a... what is a battery can i make one at home, battery can i make one at home for kids, what is a battery, physics for kids, physical science, science podcast for kids No