INERTIA BALL 1F20.10

PURPOSE: To show inertia.

DESCRIPTION: A heavy ball rests on the floor connected to a wood handle with a light string.  Hold the handle and raise the ball  from the floor slowly so the string does not snap.  Return it it to the floor.  Jerk the string to quickly to try and raise the ball fast, but break the string.

There is a modification of this demo where two strings are used.  The lower string or the top string can break if you jerk the handle slow or fast.  See the photo below:

Copious references:

Sutton, Demonstration Experiments in Physics, Demonstrations M-100. Inertial Reaction and M-101. Breaking a Rope by Inertia.

P. LeCorbeiller, ‘‘A classical experiment illustrating the notion of ‘jerk,’ ’’ Am. J. Phys. 13 (3), 156–158 1945. 
P. LeCorbeiller, A Classical Experiment Illustrating the Notion of "Jerk," AJP 14, 64-65 (1946). 
Frank G. Karioris, Inertia demonstration revisited, AJP 46, 710-713 (1978). 
Steven H. Schot, Jerk: The time rate of change of acceleration, AJP 46, 1090-1094 (1978). 
Stephen Luzader, Letter: What a Jerk!, TPT 26, 423 (1988).

Jack M. Wilson, More jerks, TPT 27, No. 1, January 1989 Pages 7 - 7 
T. R. Sandin, The Jerk, TPT 28, 36-40 (1990). 
Richard E. Berg, Letter: More on the Third Derivative, TPT 28, 199 (1990). 
Paul G. Hewitt, Letter, TPT 28, 199 (1990). 
Morris W. Leen, Jerks an Monopoles: Physical effects of the third derivative, AJP 62, 393 (1994). 
H. P. W. Gottlieb, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Question #38. What is the simplest jerk function that gives chaos?, AJP 64, 525 (1996).  
Mark A. Heald and George M. Caplan, Which String Breaks?, TPT 34, 504-507 (1996). 
Stefan J. Linz, Nonlinear dynamical models and jerky motion, APJ 65, 523-526 (1997)

EQUIPMENT:  Ball pictured above is stored in mechanics.  The string and the shelf support are in general use.

SETUP NOTES:   Use the black science string from cenco.  Do not use slip knots to tie the strings.