Mechanics > Motion in one dimension > Uniform Acceleration

CodeDemo NameDescription
1C20.10 Feather and Penny
Equipment required for setup.
Equipment required for setup.
Feather and PennyIn a tube with air present we witness how a penny and feather fall at different rates as a result of air resistance.
1C20.10 Feather and Penny with Vacuum
Demo final setup.
Demo final setup.
Feather and Penny with VacuumFeather and Penny falling in a vacuum. Removing the air to the tube causes a vacuum inside the tube which allows the feather and penny to fall at the same rate.
1C20.10 Paper and Lacrosse Ball
Paper & Lacrosse Ball Demo
Paper & Lacrosse Ball Demo
Paper and Lacrosse BallAir resistance is demonstrated using lacrosse ball and a sheet of paper. By dropping the lacrosse ball and paper at the same time towards the box of sand audience sees how air resistance effects how bodies fall. When the paper is crumbled and dropped with the lacrosse ball they fall at the same rate (air resistance is removed in part by crumpling the paper into a ball).
1C20.10 Styrofoam and Lead Balls
Lead ball and Styrofoam ball Demo
Lead ball and Styrofoam ball Demo
Styrofoam and Lead Balls Using two objects (lead and Styrofoam) with same size but much different densities/mass we demonstrate how bodies will fall at the same rate due to G (gravity).
1C20.20 Can with NutsMetal nuts are tied to a can with a string at strategic intervals. When held above a pizza pan and released the nuts are heard to strike the pan at equal time intervals.
1C20.37 Bowling Ball on Incline
Bowling Ball on Incline Demo.
Bowling Ball on Incline Demo.
Bowling Ball on InclineUniform acceleration is demonstrated by using a bowling ball and track with sound, pendulum and dropping a large tennis ball. The track uses sound to better demonstrate that the ball moving down an incline moves with constant acceleration. The pendulum is used to time the rate of acceleration.
Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with Rutgers University and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. Rutgers University is not responsible for any demonstrations performed by those using their own or others equipment, or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here, entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition, and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.


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