In the question and answer last week we saw that a floating object does not change its equilibrium position when the water container in which it is floating executes simple harmonic motion along a vertical line. This system can be observed in an mpeg video by clicking your mouse on the photograph below.
Now suppose that, rather than simply allow the container to oscillate, while it is moving downward and when it is near its equilibrium position we place a hand under the container so that hen it hits the hand it stops immediately from its greatest downward velocity. The question this week is what the floater will do just after the container is stopped.
When the container is stopped the floater will:
Click here for Answer #70 after June 25, 2001.
