What happens to the bottom-end of a Slinky if you hold it dangling by top-end and drop it?

ABC in Australia made a programme out of it. You can watch it following the link below.

Try to answer without watching the video to the point where it is revealed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAA613hqqZ0&feature=g-all-u

Question

What happens to the bottom-end of a Slinky if you hold it dangling by top-end and drop it?

ABC in Australia made a programme out of it. You can watch it following the link below.

Try to answer without watching the video to the point where it is revealed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAA613hqqZ0&feature=g-all-u

jamesj · Answer

Nice find, thanks!

(And I love my ABC, the *real* ABC ;-) )

experimentx · Answer

thanks for sharing!!

ujjwal · Answer

Interesting physics.. Thanks @Vincent-Lyon.Fr for sharing it.

vincent-lyon.fr · Answer

All of Derek's videos are great. I recommend those on Earth/Moon, inertia and laws of motion.

Search for "How far away is the Moon (the scale of the universe)"

"Spinning tube trick" is also challenging.

asnaseer · Answer

Very nice find indeed - I love this type of stuff!

anonymous · Answer

Cool post!  I had a hunch it wouldn't move, but even when I see the video it looks super counter-intuitive.  Good food for thought.

vincent-lyon.fr · Answer

If I may use an anthropomorphism: the bottom coil doesn't 'know' that the top end has been let loose until the wave has told it by carrying the information down.

anonymous · Answer

Very interesting stuff, indeed. Thanks for sharing.