1D50.10 • Central Forces: Ball on a String

Location: Cabinet 1

Photo shows the demonstration used at the University of Texas at Austin.

Instructions / Notes:

• The demonstration includes a tennis ball affixed to a one meter string.
• The ball can be swung in circles of various orientations.
• Swinging the ball in a circle that is aligned parallel to the blackboard, strategically time release of the ball at different points on its arc.
• Have students predict the trajectory for release at different points before releasing the ball.

Last updated on February 21, 2025