You may have played with a yo-yo before -- perhaps you've even walked the dog -- but do you know about the physics behind what makes a yo-yo sleep and wake up? Learn all about inertia, angular momentum and the history of the yo-yo in this episode of SYSK.
# Stuff You Should Know: How Yo-Yos Work
Josh and Chuck dive deep into the surprisingly physics-packed world of yo-yos, tracing their journey from ancient Greece and China through their reinvention in the Philippines to becoming one of the most successful toys ever sold. The episode explores the fascinating mechanics behind how these simple spinning toys work, breaking down concepts like angular momentum, gyroscopic stability, and moment of inertia in a way that'll make you appreciate that toy from your childhood in a whole new way. Along the way, they share wild historical tidbits like how the Duncan company was making 3,600 yo-yos per hour at peak production and how Abby Hoffman once did yo-yo tricks during a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing.
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