Motion & Mechanics
Swinging Ball
How can you make the ball swing higher?
By moving in steady circles, you accelerate the ball more and more. This exhibit shows how regular impulses can amplify motion.
The Science Behind It
As with swinging on a swing, you can accelerate the ball by giving it regular pushes. The ball is forced to follow a circular path. The faster it moves, the greater the centrifugal force, and the farther up the wall it travels—like a chair on a rotating carousel.
