PlasmaCar
The PlasmaCar is a plastic ride-on toy car designed for children, (can be adapted for adults see below), made popular by Canadian toy distributor PlaSmart. The PlasmaCar can be propelled by wiggling the front steering wheel which is attached to two pivoting wheels touching the ground. It harnesses the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, gravity, and friction in order to drive the car forward and backward. It does not require a power source such as batteries, fuel, pedals, or gears - it simply runs on the child's ability to wiggle the steering wheel. It can be operated  indoors and/or outdoors, though it works best on a smooth, flat surface. History. In early December 2002, an Ottawa entrepreneur named Timothy Kimber discovered the unique ride-on toy as he was shopping in an Ottawa shopping center. It was then called the Fun Car, and was on display at the mall, free for children to test drive. Kimber, fascinated with the product, located the Asian distributor and proceeded to ask questions regarding the Fun Car. Kimber discovered that while the Fun Car sold well in China, it had virtually no presence in Canada or the United States. Surprised by  the news, Kimber sought out to bring the Fun Car to North America because of its marketing potential. After much conversation with the distributor, Kimber negotiated to assume distribution and marketing rights for the Fun Car in North America. In 2003, Kimber set out to bring the Fun Car to the North American market. With approximately 1,500 ride-on units, Kimber put together a plan to expose the toy, and started by displaying it at the 2003 Canadian Toy and Hobby Show. Within a month, Kimber had created a company name (PlaSmart - pronounced Play Smart), website, and provided marketing materials  for the Fun Car, including a demo video. More importantly, he decided to change the product name from the Fun Car (deemed too generic and dull) to the PlasmaCar, a name he borrowed from the world of consumer electronics where the hottest "toy" for adults was the Plasma TV. The name change caught the attention of customers and retailers, and the PlasmaCar became a popular item at trade shows. It was a big hit among children, and can even support adults weighing upwards of 100 kg. With the popularity of the PlasmaCar rising, Kimber moved the business to an Ottawa  office and warehouse unit. Distribution of the PlasmaCar was handed over to a more established supplier with confirmed connections in the toy industry. However, the arrangement was short-lived. Within six months, distribution rights returned to PlaSmart in late 2003. The PlasmaCar is currently sold worldwide. PlasmaCar Physics. The PlasmaCar design includes six wheels, but only four touch the ground. The first two wheels located at the front of the vehicle do not touch the ground (a common misconception) or spin: they are merely there for stability and safety in case the rider leans forward or drives into an elevated  surface (such as a street curb). The next set of wheels of the PlasmaCar are attached to the steering wheel by a lever, in such a way that they are located behind the axis of rotation of the steering column. The torque applied to the steering wheel causes a lateral friction force by the wheels on the ground, a force parallel to the axle and perpendicular to the direction the wheels are rolling. If a component of this force points to the back of the car, the reaction force of the ground on the car (by Newton's "action/reaction