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And this is how a slinky falls (4.asset.soup.io)
submitted 11 months ago by jlmawp
[–]elizzybeth 384 points385 points386 points 11 months ago
Can anyone explain why this happens, physics-wise?
[–]wreckemtech 1417 points1418 points1419 points 11 months ago
When a stretched spring is unrestrained, both ends of the spring are pulled towards the spring's center. So what you are seeing is a 2 forces (tension and gravity) acting on the two ends of the spring with two different results:
Once the spring finishes compressing, then the compressed spring is pulled to the ground by a combination of momentum from the top of the spring and gravity. Notice that even with the momentum of the top half of the spring "pushing" it downward, the compressed spring still moves much slower that the top half alone.
[–]cleverlyoriginal 60 points61 points62 points 11 months ago*
The crucial factor here is that the slinky is extended by the force of gravity.
The forces of tension and gravity are both equal and opposite, and reach a balance by the nature of the slinky being stretched by gravity until the tension of the spring is enough to stop the stretching. This makes the two main forces acting on the slinky identical, but opposing.
Make sense?
[–]The_Great_Thinker 143 points144 points145 points 11 months ago
We Have A Winner, Thank You!
Yours is the first explanation that I understood completely. Would it be possible for a spring, with a slightly higher tension, to move so that the bottom would actually come up at first? If it had much more tension though it wouldn't uncoil under it's own weight, so maybe this is the perfect balance.
[–]wreckemtech 238 points239 points240 points 11 months ago
Would it be possible for a spring, with a slightly higher tension, to move so that the bottom would actually come up at first?
No. If there were enough tension in the spring to pull it up, it would have already pulled it up (since there's nothing holding it back).
If it had much more tension though it wouldn't uncoil under it's own weight, so maybe this is the perfect balance.
Exactly. Tension in a spring increases the more you stretch it. The stationary slinky is already in balance: when the tension in the spring equals the force of gravity, then the slinky stops expanding.
A stiffer or less stiff spring should act exactly the same, it will just stretch out less or more, respectively. No matter the stiffness, the spring should consistently compress first and then fall.
[–]nothis 47 points48 points49 points 11 months ago
Did I read this correctly: The bottom part will always stay "stationary", no matter how strong the slinky?
[–]gaj1985 99 points100 points101 points 11 months ago
Exactly. The slinky by definition stretches out to a point where the (upward) spring force is in equilibrium with the (downward) gravitational force.
[–]Mysteryman64 39 points40 points41 points 11 months ago
More or less. The point was, if the coil was strong enough to make the bottom move UPWARD, someone would have to hold the bottom because it wouldn't naturally stretch out like a slinky does when you only hold the one end.
[–]isarl 15 points16 points17 points 11 months ago
Correct. A slinky will stretch itself as much as it can until tension and gravity balance each other. If the slinky is stronger, then it won't have to stretch as far for its tension to counteract gravity; if it is weaker, then it will have to stretch farther.
In all cases, if it begins at rest (holding the slinky from one end with the other end free and stationary) then the bottom end will remain stationary as you've already seen.
[–]chemistry_teacher 13 points14 points15 points 11 months ago
I believe this would only apply if the spring were "ideal". As a "real" spring contracts, the upward force keeping the bottom part of the spring in place against gravity may decrease somewhat more rapidly, allowing for some downward acceleration.
But I'm just a buck private chemistry teacher...
[–]niugnep24 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago*
Actually I'm having an issue with the explanation being tossed around in this thread.... Specifically, if the spring were "ideal," then wouldn't the tension decrease as the spring collapsed, rendering it less than gravity and causing the bottom end to start to fall?
The fact that the bottom doesn't move at all seems to be to be less due to basic spring physics, and more due to the specific nature of the slinky and the speed at which tension waves travel along it. The tension at the bottom remains equal to gravity even though the slinky is collapsing because the wave from releasing the top hasn't hit it yet. Ideal springs on the other hand are instantaneous.
Eh, I'm probably several hours too late to make a dent in this thread though.
EDIT: Here's a physics simulation with an ideal spring. To re-create this experiment, try damping=0.4, gravity=10, spring stiffness=1, and spring rest length = 0. Then hold the spring up like the slinky until it stops moving. Let go, and you can see the bottom mass start moving (albeit very slightly) before the top mass reaches it.
[–]jet_master 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
Actually, no. The bottom of the slinky moves down, but VERY slowly.
What happens is that the center of mass of the slinky will be moving down, and as the top collapses down, the center of mass moves closer to the top (relative to the geometric center). However, in the observer's frame of reference, the center of gravity is still moving down slowly.
You can see this better in the tennis ball video - the ball does move down slowly as the top is collapsing.
But yes, the slinky's strength doesn't make a difference.
[–]BinaryRockStar 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Yes, because when the spring is being held up by one end it will contract to the length at which the force of the tension is exactly the same as the force of gravity. The only way to have the bottom half move upward would be to strength the spring from the bottom and release it like shooting a rubber band.
[–]tehamster 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
It doesn't stay completely stationary during the compression, if that's what you're asking. Before the spring starts compressing, the force from gravity and the tension from the spring are balanced, resulting in zero acceleration. As the spring compresses, gravity stays constant, while tension goes down, which means that the bottom of the spring will accelerate downwards at a growing rate until it's completely compressed.
[–]Thermodynamicist 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Yes, assuming that the slinky was at rest immediately prior to release.
If it was oscillating prior to release then all bets are off.
[–]dissonance07 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago*
I can confirm this from some simulations I just ran. For fun. For fun. No matter how stiff you set the spring, it will not normalize.
One interesting aspect of this - because springs actually have mass, the at-rest slinky will have more mass near the ground than at the top, so the center of mass is even lower, meaning that i would take more force to lift the bottom end.
Screenshots from my simple 2-mass simulation. Slinky is dropped at t=1s. Around three and a half seconds later, the two ends undergo an inelastic collision, and continue to fall together. Notice that the bottom mass is actually dropping, but rather slowly. This happens in a shorter period of time with a stiffer spring, but the interaction is principally the same.
[–]No-Shit-Sherlock 3 points4 points5 points 11 months ago
Would it be possible for a spring, with a slightly higher tension, to move so that the bottom would actually come up at first? No. If there were enough tension in the spring to pull it up, it would have already pulled it up (since there's nothing holding it back).
That's only true in a spring that is dangling freely like in the video. You could stretch the spring with more force than gravity alone would apply then simultaneously release the top and bottom at the same time. That would result in the bottom of the spring climbing instead of staying still.
[–]Concision 23 points24 points25 points 11 months ago
No shit, Sherlock. That's why he said "since there's nothing holding it back."
[–]MiracleBlue 11 points12 points13 points 11 months ago
Hey hey hey... we're all friends here. The polite way of saying this would be "Fecal matter be damned, curious and investigative fellow. I believe he already said that. Good day to you."
[–]ribosometronome 11 points12 points13 points 11 months ago
Look at the username of the fellow he was replying to. It's not as rude as it seems.
[–]MiracleBlue 7 points8 points9 points 11 months ago
...oh. See, this is why people like r_spiders_link are so effective.
Well played.
[–]Concision 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
Upvote for good intentions. I don't mean to be rude, haha, just a play on the guy's name. (:
[–]MiracleBlue 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I now know thanks to a helpful comment :)
[–]Scotman23 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
someone from texas tech offered a valid explanation?
[–]david76 10 points11 points12 points 11 months ago
No. So long as the spring is fully extended and not touching the ground, the tension in the spring is equal to that of gravity, otherwise the spring would either stretch or contract until those forces were equal.
[–]MananWho 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
I find it somewhat amusing that The_Great_Thinker needed someone to explain this to him.
[–][deleted] 11 points12 points13 points 11 months ago
He's the great thinker, not the great knower.
[–]footzilla 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
Yours is the first explanation that I understood.
It's not you. Most of the rest of them are wrong.
[–]madcreator 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Sure, take a coiled slinky, drop the bottom while holding the top stationary. When the bottom hits the point of maximum tension and starts to rise back up again let go of the top. Because there is more tension than if you had let the bottom come to a rest, the bottom will continue to rise while the top accelerates towards it.
[–]MOAR_KRABS 12 points13 points14 points 11 months ago
That's it science. You've gone too far this time.
[–][deleted] 27 points28 points29 points 11 months ago
Magic, got it.
[–]bonafidebob 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
What can you change about the experiment that would allow the bottom of the slinky to begin falling before it had completely collapsed?
[–]hayburg 8 points9 points10 points 11 months ago
If the slinky wasn't completely extended when you dropped it, it would move downward before it completely collapsed. So if you initially also held the bottom of the slinky up a bit from it's equilibrium point, the force of gravity would be greater than the tension pulling it up when you let both ends go.
Alternatively, if you pulled the bottom of the slinky down past its equilibrium point and then let both ends go, the force from tension on the bottom would be greater than the force due to gravity and the bottom would initially move up.
[–]bonafidebob 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Good answer.
What about if you don't add any external force to the bottom? That is, keep the constraint that the slinky is suspended from the top and still.
Will this work with a plastic slinky? How about a slinky made out of something less springy? Something stiffer?
[–]david76 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
My god, the answers above make me want to bang my head into the table. Thank you.
[–]Eratosthenes 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Beyond this, the reason the video shows both the bottom of the slinky and the tennis ball being stationary is precisely because the man waits for the bottom of the slinky to reach an equilibrium where it is balancing gravity pulling it down versus tension from the slinky pulling it up.
[–]derrelicte 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Does this go for springs of all length? Meaning, if we were to get a slinky that stretches out to 1000ft, would we observe the same exact thing happening, or is there a point where gravity can pull down more than the tension can pull up?
[–]CleanBill 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
does the center of mass of the slinky system falls following a movement accelrated at g ? or is the center of mass movement affected by the spring compression somehow?
[–]jvi 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Wait, then why does this not apply to simply a straight piece of string?
[–]kratan 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
That is both understandable and awesome! Thanks for explaining that :D
[–]brutaldrums420 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
brilliantly simple! Thanks
[–]Narwhal_Jesus 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
This makes sense to me, but I do have one doubt: the force felt by one end of a spring is proportional to how stretched the spring is. Why is it that the bottom only falls when the slinky is pretty much completely collapsed? Shouldn't the force from the spring tension felt by the bottom of the slinky decline linearly as the slinky collapses above it?
[–]Garbagio 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I feel like a superhuman for not being the slightest bit fascinated or surprised by this piece of elementary college-level slinky observation.
[–]AutumnStar 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Although the way you explained it is correct, a simpler way I learned it is this:
The slinky moves this way because what really accelerates at 9.8 m/s2 is the center of mass. The slinky moves this way because this is what makes the center of mass free fall at the correct acceleration.
[–]Incalite 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
So it stands to reason that once the top reaches the center, it'll only accelerate down to the bottom of the slinky at the rate of gravity plus the velocity gained from the top reaching the center?
[–]Prince_Ashitaka 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
410 downovotes? Why..?
[–]leg_room 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
You make me proud to be a Techsan.
[–]Ghosttwo 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Furthermore, if you were to track its center of gravity, you'd find that it falls at the normal rate; the bottom of the spring is essentially being pulled upwards as it falls.
[–]doubledmateo 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Really well put, I have one small beef with this part though, "then the compressed spring is pulled to the ground by a combination of momentum from the top of the spring and gravity."
Maybe I'm missing something but doesn't the spring have a center of mass that's falling at the regular acceleration due to gravity (obviously omitting drag forces due to air resistance here). Because any downward momentum generated by the top half of the spring is balanced out by the upward momentum of the bottom half. The only way I can see that there would be unbalanced momentum at that point would be if we had created more tension then is accounted for by gravity (i.e. we hold the center in place before dropping pull the top up even more and then release the top half before letting go of the center and letting the whole thing drop.)
If I misunderstood though, then my apologies. By it's momentum were you just referring to the initial velocity of the total spring (basically it's center of mass) at the time it's fully compressed?
TL;DR version: If I'm not mistaken we can look at the spring as a single object that drops with the acceleration due to gravity that we see with any other object. all the tension is an internal issue and will have no net effect on the system since it started from equilibrium.
[–]metis2 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago*
What about in a vacuum? How does the fall rate compare to a normal object?
[–]johnasmith 27 points28 points29 points 11 months ago*
Strangely enough, I went to college and lived with the guy on the left.
Here's the original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGIZKETKKdw
They explain how this works in the video. Short answer? The information about the changing tension has to be passed along the slinky. There also other factors.
[–]david76 13 points14 points15 points 11 months ago
The forces involved don't have "information". You can transmit information on a wave, but there is no "information" in the slinky that is telling the tennis ball "OK, fall".
The tension in the spring is pulling up with the same force as gravity is pulling down. This happens so long as a portion of the slinky is not fully compressed, there is an upward force opposing gravity equally and opposite.
[–]johnasmith 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
You're right. Information isn't passed along exactly. That was poorly expressed.
[–]baylissray 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
I don't understand why they use the term "information" and say the bottom of the slinky "knows" the forces acting on it. The bottom is reacting to the forces acting on it at all times; when it's stationary it's because there is no net force acting on it.
[–]elizzybeth 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
Thank you for the video! How amazing.
[–]OneShotHelpful 24 points25 points26 points 11 months ago*
My guess is that whatever force its called that coils the slinky is strong enough to move about twice as fast as gravity. So the slinky's center of gravity is falling just like it should be, but the bottom doesn't move because the top is moving fast enough for both of them.
Edit: Okay, I worded this terribly.
[–]shenaniganns 71 points72 points73 points 11 months ago
I think the force from the coils is applied to both ends equally, just the force on the bottom portion is up, as the center of gravity is still above it, counteracting the force due to gravity. The top portion of the slinky has both the coil's force and gravity, so it's moving much faster than normal. You're right about the slinky's center of gravity falling just like it should be.
[–]wuzizname 22 points23 points24 points 11 months ago
BURN THE WITCH!
[–][deleted] 11 months ago
[deleted]
[–]Slodder 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
I call shenaniganns..
[–]jrhoffa 10 points11 points12 points 11 months ago
Close, but ...
twice as fast as gravity
... what's the speed of gravity?
[–]bondiblueos9 8 points9 points10 points 11 months ago
I believe the speed of gravity is the speed of light, but that's not what he meant.
[–]Justthefacts007 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
It isn't the speed of gravity but rather the acceleration of gravity which at sea level is appox. 9.8 meters/sec/sec. That means at the end of one second an object dropped would be traveling 9.8 meters per second, at the end of two seconds 19.6 meters per second.
[–]reflectiveSingleton 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Gravity actually has no concept of 'speed', I think you are talking about the speed of the propagation of gravity, which is the speed of light.
[–]Borkz 11 points12 points13 points 11 months ago
To put it simpler, the slinky is contracting at a rate such that the bottom of the slinky is moving up towards the top of the slinky at the same rate that its falling downward.
[–]MutaschioedGentleman 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
Hooke's Law
[–]Roflcoptr 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
The spring want to come together and compact to how it originally was, therefore there is a force going up on the string. that up force counteracts gravity making the bottom sit still while they are coming together.
[–]drunk_irish_guy 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
watch the video and he explains it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCMmmEEyOO0
[–]marthirial 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Can anyone explain why this happens, dude pants-wise?
[–]darkNergy 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
The center of the spring is in free fall, and the two ends are each accelerating toward the center. The bottom is apparently hovering because its upward acceleration from spring tension exactly balances its downward acceleration from gravity.
Here's something crazy. As this video shows, the same thing happens even if you attach a tennis ball to the bottom of the slinky!
I'm thinking I might analyze this just for fun. I think a Lagrangian approach would work well, especially if I want to include the tennis ball.
[–]whambamthankyoumam 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
The video that explains it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCMmmEEyOO0&NR=1
[–]tad 0 points1 point2 points 11 months ago
Springs are modeled using Hooke's Law, F = -kx, where:
Here, F = -G (force of gravity on the spring). The spring was likely selected specifically for this demonstration.
[–]CharlieDancey 37 points38 points39 points 11 months ago
Well of course F = -G, because the spring, while held, will extend until F reaches this value.
What I mean is that the spring was not "selected" for this value, it simply extended until this value was reached, which puts it into equilibrium.
What's interesting is what happens when the top of the spring is released…
[–]LegallyBlindTruther 14 points15 points16 points 11 months ago
Still doesn't explain Building 7
[–]elizzybeth 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
That's awesome and really cool, thanks! Makes me wish I'd taken more physics classes.
[–]footzilla 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
The spring was likely selected specifically for this demonstration.
You're thinking too hard. The Slinky finds equilibrium all by itself. It won't stop moving until it does.
[–]Wakasaki_Rocky 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
So you're telling me there's a chance.
[–][deleted] 519 points520 points521 points 11 months ago
Obligatory link to the video
[–]j258d 401 points402 points403 points 11 months ago
Press 3, observe the Wadsworth constant.
[–]ErroneousFunk 50 points51 points52 points 11 months ago
As an engineer, I immediately thought this was some sort of materials or physical constant I just hadn't heard of, and it could be measured by timing falling slinkies :-p
[–]BearBryant 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
This kind of stuff gets a free pass though, there's way too many named constants and variables. Reynolds number
Stefan-Boltzmann constant
Darcy-weisbach friction factor
Rayleigh number
Biot number
Youngs modulus
Prinelt number
Poissons ratio, etc.
Shit is out of hand, yo.
[–]Velitatio 72 points73 points74 points 11 months ago
That is the first thing i thought. Holy shit the constant is constant
[–]VGChampion 160 points161 points162 points 11 months ago
That's because people mention it when it works and don't mention it when it doesn't.
[–]chiisana 19 points20 points21 points 11 months ago
AKA confirmation bias.
((Yes, I know wadsworth constant works here, too))
[–]Flaminess 147 points148 points149 points 11 months ago
So its like prayer?
[–]AssassinFlonne 62 points63 points64 points 11 months ago
Hey guys look at me, I'm an Atheist
[–]HitTheGymAndLawyerUp 20 points21 points22 points 11 months ago
ξ = look at me, I'm an Atheist
It's like Guile's stage in Street Fighter, it goes with everything!
[–]UnboundPrometheus 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
in Street Fighter, it goes with everything!
That didn't.
[–]HippieTrippie 9 points10 points11 points 11 months ago
You forgot to round to the nearest logical point.
Street Fighter, it goes with everything
[–]Chazboski 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
it goes with everything!
[–]noumuon 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
either i'm missing something or taylor was a staunch atheist.
[–]Smills29 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I am Athier than he is!
[–]IYKWIM_AITYD 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
So you're the Athie-est?
[–]SPACE_LAWYER 10 points11 points12 points 11 months ago
like prayer?
[–]Rubix22 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I'll take you there.
[–]SPACE_LAWYER 8 points9 points10 points 11 months ago
mention it when it works and don't mention it when it doesn't.
[–]ieatsushi 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
confirmation bias
[–]victorii 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Goddamn that worked well.
[–]LovesMustard 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
How a slinky falls.
[–]Jedakiah 21 points22 points23 points 11 months ago
Tie me to the slinky, I want to go next.
[–]CrunxMan 9 points10 points11 points 11 months ago
Dear god, we must use this to stop the Huns.
[–]nailz1000 25 points26 points27 points 11 months ago
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE TENNIS BALL? GOD DAMMIT.
[–]aquasucks 30 points31 points32 points 11 months ago
This.
[–]spesic 8 points9 points10 points 11 months ago
Ask and you shall receive the knowledge.
[–]kaysea112[] 7 points8 points9 points 11 months ago
Here you go
[–]kadjar 83 points84 points85 points 11 months ago
Thank you. So much better than a .gif.
[–]mvpujols777 59 points60 points61 points 11 months ago
Obligatory comment about how the video is better than the .gif
[–]chase_the_dragon 59 points60 points61 points 11 months ago
[Obligatory comment about how videos are blocked at work for some people and gif is useful for them]
[–]chase_the_dragon 46 points47 points48 points 11 months ago
[Obligatory comment about getting off reddit and doing some goddamn work instead]
[Obligatory comment recommending the above user to suck mah bawls]
[–]GeneralWarts 43 points44 points45 points 11 months ago
[Obligatory c-c-c-c-combo breaker]
[–]Baaz 88 points89 points90 points 11 months ago
Philosoraptor wonders: If a combo breaker is an obligatory part of a combo, does it still break the combo?
[–]iratecomments 7 points8 points9 points 11 months ago
I DON'T EVEN LIKE PHILOSOPHY RAPTOR BUT YOU GET A SIX
[–]ZestyOne 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
[Obligatory meta head-'splosion]
[–]vsPERIL 0 points1 point2 points 11 months ago
...shit.
[–]darkmessiah 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
You forgot to change accounts!
[–][deleted] -1 points0 points1 point 11 months ago
[Obligatory Porn]
[–]PresumablyCorrect 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
[Obligatory Fap]
[–]funkytaco 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
[Obligatory comment about how the GIF lacks sound]
[–]rasherdk 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
So post the less useful, lower quality option in the comments.
[–]chase_the_dragon 3 points4 points5 points 11 months ago
Unless there's some enforcement by moderators, people will post whatever they want. Videos will get submitted and some nice person may post a gif in the comments. Or a gif may be submitted and someone will post a video.
If you really have problems with it, go to specific subreddits or look it up yourself, because the people submitting probably won't think twice about whether there's a gif or video version of what they just posted. And if that doesn't work... move on.
[–]iratecomments 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
YOU'RE WRONG, THE GIF WAS MORE CONCISE AND THE VIDEO WAS NOT PARTICULARLY INFORMATIVE. YOU GET A FOUR FOR BEING POLITE.
[–]StupidPoliticalViews 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Yup, this is what the world has come to!
Thank's to the retarded education system controlled by corporations and christians, now we present our opinions with simple numbers.
It's just like money, it boils down our beautiful world to a set of grey dickless little numbers, and then we use them to screw each other over!
Oh, one for you, and one for me, and Oh! you have one more than me, so I'm gonna STAB YOU IN THE RIB‼
that's what our capitalist imperialistic corporate system does, it's killing the world!
and this is why i'm planning to get together with some of my friends and organize a revolution!!
[–][deleted] 3 points4 points5 points 11 months ago
Seriously, the .gif wouldn't even load. But my face was like :O during the video when it showed in slow motion.
[–]simperingfool 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
Thanks. I was wondering who gave a shit about a video showing 2 guys completely failing at playing with a slinky.
[–]escapist11 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
GAH! That's freaking awesome! Thanks!
[–]ummmmok 69 points70 points71 points 11 months ago*
Looks cooler in reverse
The real Magneto
[–]OffhandComment 25 points26 points27 points 11 months ago
That's...
[–]GeneralWarts 13 points14 points15 points 11 months ago
Why are they pringles!?!
[–]sikmoe 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
I believe it has to do with this video
[–]reblink 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
Scoops! Scoops Häagen-Dazs!
[–]kryptonik_ 88 points89 points90 points 11 months ago
That is surprisingly really cool.
[–]wiseguy68 44 points45 points46 points 11 months ago
That is springprisingly really coil.
[–]LionLager 13 points14 points15 points 11 months ago
Swing and a miss.
[–]ISeeYourOtherHand 20 points21 points22 points 11 months ago
Spring and a twist.
[–]timmymac 9 points10 points11 points 11 months ago
All I saw was how a LINKY fails.
[–]meshugga 13 points14 points15 points 11 months ago
when reddit frontpage comes to visit.
Ah, munin.
[–]incaseyoucare 45 points46 points47 points 11 months ago
Its an inside job! There's no other explanation.
[–]Jbojackson 79 points80 points81 points 11 months ago
I've been designing slinky's for 30 years, and there's no way a slinky would fall like that without explosives.
[–]haackedc 12 points13 points14 points 11 months ago*
They were built to withstand compression waves.
[–]internetsuperstar 16 points17 points18 points 11 months ago*
This is all just a smoke and mirrors campaign to make you forget about Slinky 7.
[–]random012345 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
The filming of the falling slinky was done in a sound stage.
[–]Fucking_Montezuma 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
So...made many advances in the slinky field recently?
[–]armchairboogie 8 points9 points10 points 11 months ago
Home Science With Dick Cheney!
[–]Lamalera5 20 points21 points22 points 11 months ago
Is that Dick Cheney?
[–]nazihatinchimp 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
I thought it was Larry David.
[–]ImNoYankee 3 points4 points5 points 11 months ago
IT'S A CONSPIRACY!
IT'S CLEARLY A CONTROLLED SLINKY FALL.
[–]mrimperfect 15 points16 points17 points 11 months ago
What if you tie a tennis ball to the bottom of the Slinky?
[–]reseph 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
So... he drops it with one hand, then in the replay he had dropped it with 2 hands.
THE CALLS ARE COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE
[–]zaoldyeck 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
Wow, how weird, my professor yesterday told us "I will blow your minds with a slinky" and then did this after class. And then showed us the video. Ah, I love physics profs. He although had quite an odd number of Eeyores in his office, guess his kids must really like Eeyore.
[–]EmuPhotography 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
I disagree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8szWccJvb4
[–]jurble 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
Slinkys are the key to antigravity.
[–]Squirrel2121 8 points9 points10 points 11 months ago
I honestly thought the dude on the left was Charlie Day until I watched the video.
[–][deleted] 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
Same here, I just did a control+F to see if anybody mentioned this
[–]McVegetable 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I thought it said fails lol
[–]acman319 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I read it as how a slinky fails and was very confused as to how exactly it was failing after watching it twice. tl;dr you're not alone.
[–]oep4 3 points4 points5 points 11 months ago
I find it fascinating that even though my computer has an i5 processor, 4 GB of ram, and a SSD, it still takes years for .gif's to load.
[–]HereIsTheVideo 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
Here is the video
[–]RedditRage 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
The entire slinky is falling as normal due to gravity. However, the center of mass is changing due to the tension causing the slinky to shrink. The actual center of mass if you could show it as a point in the video, would still be falling at the same acceleration as a solid object.
[–]dvangel 7 points8 points9 points 11 months ago
Is anyone else more interested in how the man on the left follows the top of the slinky with his head, than with the slinky itself?
[–]three18ti 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
This
[–]redditor3000 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
I feel like that old man is destroying his childhood.
[–]whateverfits 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
Sure, it falls that way if you're an evil sorcerer like Dick Cheney, but what about the rest of us?
[–]Sheldy13 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
and THAT'S how he took out the first tower!
[–]gatorgator 10 points11 points12 points 11 months ago
WOW!!! This is terrible to say, but it reminded me a little bit of the twin towers going down on 911 :(
[–]ohgobwhatisthis 30 points31 points32 points 11 months ago
Well, you didn't forget.
[–]chewitt 6 points7 points8 points 11 months ago
SLINKY WAS AN INSIDE JOB
[–]MrHall 10 points11 points12 points 11 months ago
Came here to say this. Except without the guilt..
[–]oobey 5 points6 points7 points 11 months ago
The slinky fell quicker than gravity!!1'@
[–]JavaWarlord 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
In other news, conspiracy theorists claim the Twin Towers' internal structure was replaced with a giant slinky!
[–]mram10 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
They should do this on Time Warp!
[–]zetversus 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Now play it in reverse.
COME TO ME MY SLINKY.
[–]imfrickenknipe 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
AH.
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
this was a from a video posted on here a few weeks ago. in the video the physics of it was explained. karma whore
[–]pandrew88 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Physics must be pissed.
[–]JerichoJackson 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
What if you had a mile long slinky and did the same thing? Would the bottom of the slinky just float there until the top falls all the way down?
[–]so_this_is_my_name 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Stupid lag messing with physics
[–]NateTheGreat26 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooah
[–]Dorfidiot 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
jaw dropping
[–]EDM606 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
The last few frames, he looks like he just cast "sleep" on the younger guy. Who casts sleep? That never works.
[–]TheKingOfPoon 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
its really cool, he doesnt notice it until its about half way done collapsing, but yet he adapts to where the slinky is after he realizes it is collapsing
[–]big_dirt 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
... With thunderous applause.
[–]atlaslugged 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
It's a good thing they did that in an unpopulated outdoor area. Otherwise it could have gotten ugly. At the least it would have blown that guy's skinny jeans right off.
[–]Silly_Muffin 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Lets fill a bath tub full of sweat
[–]Ravenseye 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
First the speed of light thing...then THIS! what the hell physics!?? Y U No Work?
[–]oldguardisdead 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
WE MUST HARNESS THE TECHNOLOGY
[–]crackshot91 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
And thus verily the bottom didst sayeth to the top: "I will wait for thee."
fin~
[–]nightwood 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I never liked Slinky's until now.
[–]yourewastingyourtime 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
Why is no one using this to make planes that don't run on fuel? Surely using anti-gravity springs and maybe combining it with a gyroscope and a jet engine or something, some of these scientists could make something useful so I don't feel as bad about melting the Eskimo's homes because I want to go to Jamaica.
It really is about time that scientists started getting their act together though. Why haven't they cured cancer or made a time machine yet. We pay them millions of $s a year and they don't really make anything that I want. The only proper scientist was Steve Jobs and hes dead now, he invented loads of really good stuff like computers and probably the internet.
Are there any scientists on Reddit that actually know how to make anything good? If yes, then start making GOOD things rather than black holes that will kill us all!!!!!!
[–]unjustifiably_angry 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
The world trade center was made of slinkies!
[–]blizzsucks 3 points4 points5 points 11 months ago
Seriously? I posted this like a week ago. But apparently I posted it to /gaming.... :(
http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/kwxlf/slinkies_are_pretty_cool_especially_when_viewed/
[–]Plasmoid2000ad 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
This kills the slinky.
[–]mightycow 2 points3 points4 points 11 months ago
WITCHCRAFT!
[–]colinq 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
I could watch this for an hour without getting bored.
[–]Flocito 4 points5 points6 points 11 months ago
Yeah, I had slow load times too.
[–]xyroclast 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
How on earth is that possible? Shouldn't the bottom move downwards, at the very least, at a slower speed? It seems like the old comic book "strongman holding up his own hammock" trick...
Edit: Ok, I think I figured it out. You're supposed to watch the CENTER of the slinky as being its "true position" right? And the top and bottom are pulling towards it as it falls?
[–]mermadon 1 point2 points3 points 11 months ago
You are correct, the center of mass of the slinky will accelerate normally downward, it's just hard to follow the center of mass because of the way the whole thing is contracting it makes it look like it's staying still. If you watch the very bottom edge it does move as soon as he lets go.
[–]ginandsoda 0 points1 point2 points 11 months ago
But...how...
all it takes is a username and password
create account
is it really that easy? only one way to find out...
already have an account and just want to login?
login
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