Double Ball Drop
Equipment: A basket ball and a tennis ball.
What it does: The basket ball and tennis ball are dropped so that they are touching with the tennis ball on top. When they hit the floor, the tennis ball flies off with greatly increased energy and momentum.
Concepts Demonstrated: Energy and momentum tranfer through inelastic collisions.
Classroom assembly:
- Hold the basket ball and tennis ball so that they are touching, with the tennis ball on top.
- Drop the balls on the floor with the basket ball on the bottom. The tennis ball will fly off with greatly increased energy and momentum.
Cautions: None.
Setup Time: Short.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Visibility: High. This demonstration is appropriate for large lecture halls.
Related demonstrations:
References:
Original Construction: Purchased.
Disclaimer: All demonstrations are posted for the convenience and benefit of faculty and staff in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University and are not intended for outside use. The author(s) assume no responsibility or liability for the use of information contained on this site. Warnings and precautionary measures listed on this site assume normal operation of equipment and are not inclusive. Demonstrations may pose a significant hazard and can, in some instances, result in death; reasonable safety precautions must be taken. Demonstrations should be performed by qualified individuals only.
Prepared by Laura Schmidt, June 2007