PURPOSE: To show the relationship between constant acceleration and change in distance.
DESCRIPTION: Stand atop the lecture bench and hold a long string of beads off the floor. Drop them onto a metal plate. One string has beads with equal spacing. The series of pitter patters is heard to increase in rhythm when dropped. Another string has beads spaced equally in time and is heard to remain constant in rhythm.
EQUIPMENT: Two strings of beads and a metal shelf, a stool.
SETUP NOTES: The beads are stored in mechanics and the metal shelf is stored in the ceiling rafters. Use a stool.
NOTE: An alternate way to do this demo is to use a long board with cardboard flappers. This version of the demo does not require the faculty to stand on top of the lecture bench. The board, cardboard, and weight are stored in mechanics.
Updated by Jun Qi in 3/1/2000