Demonstrating Momentum

[Ben]

We need more "hands on" professors like this in our universities. I like how he directly relates demonstrated properties to the formula. My minds learns things much better with connections like this than with dry explanations of formulas on a chalkboard.

http://www.wimp.com/demonstrationmomentum/

[CNYCacher]

My favorite physics demonstration was the professor had a bowling ball hanging on a long chain from the ceiling. He pulled it back about 15 feet, placing it right at the end of his nose, and let it go. It swung 30 feet across the room, then right back at his face like a wrecking ball. There was a collective gasp as the ball stopped at what must have been millimeters from his nose, and swung out again. Conservation of energy: it's impossible for it to swing back higher than it started.

He was asked how he was able to avoid flinching, and replied "I had my eyes closed."

[230RN]

I've always had trouble figuring out how come a spinning and gyroscopically stabilized bullet will turn point first throughout its curved flight in air.

In vacuo it ought to keep the same attitude when it comes down that it departed the barrel with and keyhole into the target.

I'm not real good at intuitively analyzing dynamic systems anyhow.  Just a blind spot I guess I inherited.  Call me "third variable challenged."

I can walk and chew gum at the same time, but that's about it.  Add another variable and I'm hopeless.

Terry

[TechMan]

My favorite physics demonstration was in high school.  Our physics teacher had 2 beds of nails, he laid down on one and put the other on top of himself.  He then had us put a cinder block on top of the top bed of nails.  He then had me take a sledge hammer and break the cinder block.  He came out no worse for wear.

[Harold Tuttle]

I've always had trouble figuring out how come a spinning and gyroscopically stabilized bullet will turn point first throughout its curved flight in air.

In vacuo it ought to keep the same attitude when it comes down that it departed the barrel with and keyhole into the target.


Terry

the spinning about its longitudinal axis is its primary mode, the arced path is an external influence

[brimic]

My favorite physics demonstration was in high school.  Our physics teacher had 2 beds of nails, he laid down on one and put the other on top of himself.  He then had us put a cinder block on top of the top bed of nails.  He then had me take a sledge hammer and break the cinder block.  He came out no worse for wear.

https://www.google.com/search?q=discovery+world+milwaukee+bed+of+nails&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=A5pBUvCFNY6g4AOdlYDADA&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1292&bih=755&dpr=1

There is a 'bed of nails' at a local museum that is a 'hands on' display. Very cool thing to try out.

[Jamisjockey]

2+2=purple.

[TommyGunn]

2+2=purple  cyan.

FIFY. 

[RevDisk]

My favorite physics demonstration was in high school.  Our physics teacher had 2 beds of nails, he laid down on one and put the other on top of himself.  He then had us put a cinder block on top of the top bed of nails.  He then had me take a sledge hammer and break the cinder block.  He came out no worse for wear.

http://www.darylscience.com/Demos/BON.html

http://www.darylscience.com/Demos/NewtonQuickies.html