Arc Slider

A circular arc track (a segment of a circle) designed as a physics experiment demonstrating momentum and kinetic energy transfer.

Project Details

Arc Slider

The Physics

When a ball rolls along this ramp, it behaves like a mathematical pendulum. It's a great way to visualize harmonic motion and energy conservation.

The "Slingshot" Effect

While designed for 12.7mm balls, the real fun starts when you experiment with different ball diameters (tested with 35mm, 30mm, 25mm, and 6mm).

The experiment:

  • Line up the balls of different sizes next to each other at the bottom of the track.
  • Push or drop the largest ball into the line.
  • Watch the momentum transfer — the smallest ball will launch out of the track like a slingshot!