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Code Number: 1G20.40
Demo Title: Dropped Slinky
Condition: Excellent
Principle: Freefall
Area of Study: Mechanics
Equipment:
Slinky - small and large, steel and plastic.
Procedure:
Hold one end of the Slinky high in the air so that the other end is off the ground and visible. Let go of the top end and watch as the bottom end remains in place until the whole spring has contracted to its minimum length. Video capture will help with the spring observations and calculations.
Note that the top end of the Slinky falls faster than "g".
References:
- Calvin Berggren, Punit Gandhi, Jesse A. Livezey, and Ryan Olf, "A Tale of Two Slinkies: Learning about Model Building in a Student-Driven Classroom", TPT, Vol. 56, #3, Mar. 2018, p. 134.
- "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 49, #7, Oct. 2011, p. 408.
- Mark Graham, "Analysis of Slinky Levitation", TPT, Vol. 39, #2, Feb. 2001, p. 90.
- Martin Gardner, "A Slinky Problem", TPT, Vol. 38, #2, Feb. 2000, p. 78.
- John D. McGervey, "Hands-on Physics for Less Than a Dollar per Hand", TPT, Vol. 33, #4, Apr. 1995, p. 238.
- Ronald Newburgh, George M. Andes, "The Falling Slinky", TPT, Vol. 33, #9, Dec. 1995, p. 586.
- R. C. Cross, M. S. Wheatland, "Modeling a Falling Slinky", AJP, Vol. 80, #12, Dec. 2012, p. 1051.
- J. M. Aguirregabiria, A. Hernandez, and M. Rivas, "Falling Elastic Bars and Springs", AJP, Vol. 75, #7, p. 583, July 2007.
- M. G. Calkin, "Motion of a Falling Spring", AJP, Vol. 61, #3, Mar. 1993, p. 261.
- Paul Doherty, "Drop a Slinky", The Exploratorium, June 1999.