Assuming a closed system and a perfect world (no wind, gravity is 9.8m/s, constant k on the slinky) would it be mathematically possible for a slinky to be released perfectly onto the escalator and move continually?
If so what speed would the escalator have to be moving upwards?
*Taking-- "Normal stair riser height is 7½" but may be as high as 8" provided all risers are the same height."-- to get a norm. stair height (7.5in.) and a slinky of 1.75* the stair's height.
Originally posted by tamuzi Assuming a closed system and a perfect world (no wind, gravity is 9.8m/s, constant k on the slinky) would it be mathematically possible for a slinky to be released perfectly onto the escalator and move continually?
If so what speed would the escalator have to be moving upwards?
*Taking-- "Normal stair riser height is 7½" but may be as high as 8" provi ...[text shortened]... e height."-- to get a norm. stair height (7.5in.) and a slinky of 1.75* the stair's height.
I reckon the elevator would have to move downward. A slinky moves DOWN the stairs.
If you push the slinky for the initial topple it would come to rest immedeately if the elevator is moving up.
I've done no calculations to prove this, so I might be wrong (I tend to be wrong first before I get things right)
I think it is possible to release a slinky, in a escalator (not an elevator), and theoretically it will slink for ever.
But in practice, it is hard to align the speed of the escalator to the slinky's properties. Even if you do, the k of the slinky will change a little with time, thus change its position.
Originally posted by tamuzi Assuming a closed system and a perfect world (no wind, gravity is 9.8m/s, constant k on the slinky) would it be mathematically possible for a slinky to be released perfectly onto the escalator and move continually?
If so what speed would the escalator have to be moving upwards?
*Taking-- "Normal stair riser height is 7½" but may be as high as 8" provi ...[text shortened]... e height."-- to get a norm. stair height (7.5in.) and a slinky of 1.75* the stair's height.
Providing that said slinky reaches a terminal velocity when descending stationary stairs then it could be put on an escalator that accelerated to that terminal velocity and slink forever.
Slinky + Escalator
24 Apr '08 22:47
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