Impuls (Inertia)

(Click to Enlarge)

In addition to his wide variety of designs, Jean Claude Constantin also makes puzzles of all types and categories. This time, I have one that requires a good amount of dexterity, the Impuls (Inertia). The German word Impuls might be interpreted to English as impulse or momentum, or as the alternate name Inertia. It's a very fitting name, as you'll discover when you try it for yourself.

Impuls, like any other Constantin puzzle, has a very elegant and functional design. This is quite a small puzzle, actually, measuring only 6 x 5 x 5cm (2.4" x 2" x 2"). The materials used are a combination of two contrasting wooden tones and an acrylic window that lets you peer inside. What you'll be seeing, though, will be enough to solve it.

(Click to Enlarge) - The Exit

The cube has some sort of inner maze, although it's not your typical maze, which you need to navigate with a small ball bearing and free it. The solution itself has only a couple of moves, however you'll be doing quite a lot of unnecessary ones before you can actually solve it.

This is not a difficult puzzle, even if you're not used to dexterity puzzles. PuzzleMaster rates it as a level 7/10, but I would probably rate it as a level 6. Do you remember the classic game of "Ball in a cup"? The solving process of the Impuls is actually very similar to this concept, even though there's a little more to it than just throwing the ball around. There's no string involved, but I think you get the idea. It only took me a few minutes to solve it. Setting the puzzle again is much easier. You just need to place the ball inside and it'll go through to the other side effortlessly.

(Click to Enlarge) - Solved

Solution: You can download a solution here.

Closing Comments:

While the Impuls is very easy to solve, it can be rather fun to play with. Everyone, non-puzzlers included, should have a great time with it, and it's a puzzle you can always attempt to solve anytime, just to see if you can solve it faster.

Availability: You can buy the Impuls (Inertia) at PuzzleMaster for $19 CAD. You can also browse other designs by Jean Claude Constantin.