The following is a simulation for a real physics demonstration. <a href="/demolab/phpBB/qotw/c2-27.mpg"></a> A ball is placed in the funnel and the funnel cocked by compressing a spring. The track is raised at one end so that when it is released the cart accelerates down the track. At a certain point a bump below the track trips a lever, releasing the spring and ejecting the ball perpendicular to the track. Where will the ball fall? * (a) The ball will fall in front of the funnel. * (b) The ball will fall behind the funnel. * (c) The ball will fall IN the funnel. [b:601ec2c994]You can drag the left slider to change the angle of the track. [/b:601ec2c994] You can check out http://www.physics.umd.edu/lecdem/services/demos/demosc2/c2-27.htm for a real demonstration or click the above picture to watch the movie.

Virtual Physics laboratory Original URL

Fu-Kwun Hwang, Dept. Of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University.