Geekologie I Watch Stuff The Superficial

Tension Vs. Gravity: Slo-Motion Stretched Slinky Drop Reveals 'Hovering' Bottom End

September 26, 2011 / aha!, antigravity toys, finally! -- i'll be able to sleep tonight, i'm on to you!, interesting, learning things, magic, physics, toys, what in the what, what's going on here?!, yes i've always wondered that

slinky-drop.jpg

This is a video of a stretched-out Slinky being dropped in slow motion. Amazingly, the bottom end remains motionless in the air until the top of the Slinky catches up to it. Physicist Rod Cross (the sweet ol' grandpa looking guy!) explains what's happening and why it appears that way, but I'm still trying to figure out how Slinky traps air spirits in their toys. Also, one time I dropped a Magic 8 Ball and a wizard came out disguised as purple water. Haha, you can't fool me wizard! (I drank him to absorb his powers).

Hit the jump for two videos of the experiment, the second one with a tennis ball attached!

Youtube
via
Slow Motion Slinky Drop of the Day [thedailywh.at]

Thanks to Mark, who once dropped a hula hoop out of his tree fort and knocked his little sister off the swing set. Cold.

  •
    Blowing Out A Candle Makes Rainbows Appears
    December 8, 2011
    Did you know blowing out a candle makes 'lil rainbows in the smoke? Of course you did, they probably teach this shit in schools now. When I was in school we didn't learn anything about rainbows except RON J BIZ or whatever. Sea Moon's (Grover Schrayer's) Flickr (with a ton... / Continue →
  • Dot-Gobbler!: Unknown Facts About Pac-Man
    March 7, 2011
    Pac-Man, everybody's favorite dot-muncher besides yours truly (I'm a sucker for Dippin' Dots!), has always been a riddle wrapped inside a mystery wrapped inside a giant mouthy exterior. That is, until now. Game-creator Toru Iwatani has finally opened up about the toothless gl... / Continue →
  • GW To Princess Leia, Come In Princess Leia: Holographic Telecom Coming Soon?
    November 4, 2010
    Oh I'm sorry -- did I catch you just getting out of the shower again? Don't worry, I'll look away (as soon as I hit record on my webcam), I swear. Hey -- and what's up with all the BEEP BOOP BOP-ing in the background? WHY IS THAT TRASHCAN IN YOUR BEDROOM?! A University of A... / Continue →
There are Comments

  • The demonstration would be more understandable, but less amazing, if the professor dropped something else from the same height as the slinky at the same moment.

    We would see that the top of the slinky falls faster than the reference object.

    When released, the slinky contracts as it falls. The top end falls faster than plain gravity, and the bottom end falls slower as the contracting slinky pulls on it. The amazing part is that the slinky applies just enough force on the bottom end to suspend that end in the air, until the slinky completes its contraction, and then falls as a unit.

blog comments powered by Disqus