A Slinky is a popular toy made of a flexible metal or plastic coil that can stretch and bounce. It was invented in the early 1940s by Richard James, a naval engineer, who discovered that the coil could "walk" down stairs when released from a height. The Slinky is often used for entertainment and educational purposes, demonstrating principles of physics like gravity and motion. The Slinky comes in various sizes and colors, appealing to both children and adults. It can be used in creative play, as well as in science experiments to illustrate concepts such as energy transfer and wave motion.