Pulling on the Whirligig

Metal ball tied to a string passing through hole in center of a glass plate is given a rolling push. Pull on the string, Ball speeds up - can tell easily by the sound of the ball bumping on the plate.

Not quantitative, but good qualitative.

Question - where does the extra energy of the ball come from?

See Sutton, Mechanics #186

Go Back

Return to Physics Demonstrations

Go to Wesleyan Home Page