C2-41: VECTOR ADDITION OF VELOCITIES

PURPOSE: To illustrate addition of two orthogonal velocity components.

DESCRIPTION: A billiard ball is placed at the corner of the apparatus. When the two mallets are pulled back and released they strike the ball simultaneously, giving it two orthogonal velocity components. The relative amount of each component is determined by how high each mallet is raised.

Use the floor tiles to define your coordinates and show that equal forces in two orthogonal directions produce motion at 45 degrees with respect to the axes.

SUGGESTIONS:

REFERENCES: (PIRA unknown.)

EQUIPMENT: As photographed.

SETUP TIME: None.


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