2 inch steel spheres, Aluminum Foil
 Aluminum Foil

 

Code Number: 1R20.28

Demo Title: Smashing Spheres - Aluminum Foil

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Buckling Instability

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

2 inch steel spheres, Aluminum Foil.

Procedure:

Place a sheet of aluminum foil between two large steel spheres as they are smashed together.  Ripples will appear in the aluminum foil that are reported to be produced by buckling instability of the aluminum around the point of contact.

References:

  • James Rohr, Si-Yin Wang, and Vitali F. Nesterenko, "'Ripples' in an Aluminum Pool?", TPT, Vol. 56, #5, May 2018, p. 281.
1R20.28 - Smashing Spheres - Aluminum Foil