Code Number: 3B45.61
Demo Title: Bull Whip and Towel
Condition: Excellent
Principle: Shock Waves, Breaking the Sound Barrier
Area of Study: Oscillations & Acoustics, Wave Fronts
Equipment: Bull Whip or Wet Towel.
Procedure:
Much practice will be needed with the bull whip to produce the characteristic crack without injury to the demonstrator. Make sure to wear safety glasses.
References:
- Ernie McFarland and Tom Kehn, "The Fantastic Physics Fun Show", TPT, Vol. 34, #8, Nov. 1996, p. 512.
- Nicolas Lee, Spence Allen, Elizabeth Smith, and Loren M. Winters, "Does the Tip of a Snapped Towel Travel Faster Than Sound", TPT, Vol. 31, #6, Sept. 1993, p. 376.
- David T. Deihl and F. Roy Carlson Jr., "'N Waves' from Bursting Balloons ", AJP, Vol. 36, #5, May 1968, p. 441.
- B. Bernstein, D.A. Hall, H.M. Trent, "On the Dynamics of a Bull Whip", The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 30, #12, Dec. 1958.
- Jearl Walker, "3.59. Popping Bullwhips and Wet Towels", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 170.