Brachistochrone
Operation: Place the two balls at the starting positions respectively, pull the lever, and both balls will roll down simultaneously. No matter how many times you try, the ball on the curved track always reaches the finish line first. Function Overview: The exhibit consists of two tracks, two balls of equal radius and mass, and a lever. The starting height and ending height of the two tracks are the same; one is a straight track and the other is a curved track. Place the two balls at the starting positions respectively, pull the lever, and both balls will roll down simultaneously. No matter how many times you try, the ball on the curved track always reaches the finish line first. Scientific Principle: Why does the ball rolling down the longer track take the shortest time? The order in which the balls reach the finish line depends not only on the length of the track but also on the ball's sliding speed. In fact, the curved track is a brachistochrone. In the initial stage of descent, the steeper track allows the ball to quickly gain a higher speed; then, the higher speed is fully utilized to complete the flatter curve. Therefore, compared with other tracks, the ball rolling on the brachistochrone always reaches the finish line first. The brachistochrone is widely used in engineering. The curve on the 'large roof' of ancient Chinese architecture is a brachistochrone, allowing rainwater falling on the roof to flow away as quickly as possible.
Options
- China Science and Technology Museum Standard Edition CSTM Standard EditionDimensions (unit: m): 0.75×0.68×1.30 Brand: PopsciCat Model: PopsciCat-Mobile-092 1. Materials: ① Base: flame-retardant ABS injection molding, thickness ≧4mm ② Tabletop: compact laminate, thickness ≧12mm ③ Instruction sign: acrylic UV printing ④ Tabletop fasteners: standard triangular locks ⑤ Track and release mechanism: 304 stainless steel 2. Main configuration: None 3. Energy requirement: Not required
Operation: Place the two balls at the starting positions respectively, pull the lever, and both balls will roll down simultaneously. No matter how many times you try, the ball on the curved track always reaches the finish line first. Function Overview: The exhibit consists of two tracks, two balls of equal radius and mass, and a lever. The starting height and ending height of the two tracks are the same; one is a straight track and the other is a curved track. Place the two balls at the starting positions respectively, pull the lever, and both balls will roll down simultaneously. No matter how many times you try, the ball on the curved track always reaches the finish line first. Scientific Principle: Why does the ball rolling down the longer track take the shortest time? The order in which the balls reach the finish line depends not only on the length of the track but also on the ball's sliding speed. In fact, the curved track is a brachistochrone. In the initial stage of descent, the steeper track allows the ball to quickly gain a higher speed; then, the higher speed is fully utilized to complete the flatter curve. Therefore, compared with other tracks, the ball rolling on the brachistochrone always reaches the finish line first. The brachistochrone is widely used in engineering. The curve on the 'large roof' of ancient Chinese architecture is a brachistochrone, allowing rainwater falling on the roof to flow away as quickly as possible.
- Optimized Popular Edition Optimized EditionDimensions (unit: m): 0.75×0.68×1.30 Brand: PopsciCat Model: PopsciCat-Mobile-092 1. Materials: ① Base: flame-retardant ABS injection molding, thickness ≧4mm ② Tabletop: compact laminate, thickness ≧12mm ③ Instruction sign: acrylic UV printing ④ Tabletop fasteners: standard triangular locks ⑤ Track and release mechanism: 304 stainless steel 2. Main configuration: None 3. Energy requirement: Not required
Operation: Place the two balls at the starting positions respectively, pull the lever, and both balls will roll down simultaneously. No matter how many times you try, the ball on the curved track always reaches the finish line first. Function Overview: The exhibit consists of two tracks, two balls of equal radius and mass, and a lever. The starting height and ending height of the two tracks are the same; one is a straight track and the other is a curved track. Place the two balls at the starting positions respectively, pull the lever, and both balls will roll down simultaneously. No matter how many times you try, the ball on the curved track always reaches the finish line first. Scientific Principle: Why does the ball rolling down the longer track take the shortest time? The order in which the balls reach the finish line depends not only on the length of the track but also on the ball's sliding speed. In fact, the curved track is a brachistochrone. In the initial stage of descent, the steeper track allows the ball to quickly gain a higher speed; then, the higher speed is fully utilized to complete the flatter curve. Therefore, compared with other tracks, the ball rolling on the brachistochrone always reaches the finish line first. The brachistochrone is widely used in engineering. The curve on the 'large roof' of ancient Chinese architecture is a brachistochrone, allowing rainwater falling on the roof to flow away as quickly as possible.