BlurHashBallenrace

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Ball race

How does the exhibit work?

Place the 3 balls at the top of the tracks and let them roll down at the same time.

What’s the science behind it?

The balls leave at the same time, but don’t arrive at the same time. Why is that?

When you release them, each ball will gather speed. We also say that they accelerate. That’s because of gravity. Gravity draws the balls towards the earth. But… not every ball speeds up as quickly. Look closely at the tracks.

The ball that covers the longest distance gets down the fastest. That’s because of the steep slope at the beginning of the track. At the start, the ball “falls” almost straight down. It hardly touches the track. So there is barely any friction between the ball and the track. And friction slows the acceleration. Think about a slide in a swimming pool. If you tense yourself up completely and for example only touch the slide with your shoulders and your heels, there is hardly any friction and you slide down very fast.

So this ball accelerates faster from the start.

G-force or acceleration

BlurHashrollercoaster

Every time you change speed, your body accelerates.This acceleration is sometimes called ‘G-force’. In a rollercoaster, you usually experience a G-force that does not exceed 5 g. What does that mean? By accelerating, you seem to weigh 5 times as much. You are pressed into your seat with a force of 5 times your body weight.

How does the exhibit work?

Place the 3 balls at the top of the tracks and let them roll down at the same time.

What’s the science behind it?

The balls leave at the same time, but don’t arrive at the same time. Why is that?

When you release them, each ball will gather speed. We also say that they accelerate. That’s because of gravity. Gravity draws the balls towards the earth. But… not every ball speeds up as quickly. Look closely at the tracks.

The ball that covers the longest distance gets down the fastest. That’s because of the steep slope at the beginning of the track. At the start, the ball “falls” almost straight down. It hardly touches the track. So there is barely any friction between the ball and the track. And friction slows the acceleration. Think about a slide in a swimming pool. If you tense yourself up completely and for example only touch the slide with your shoulders and your heels, there is hardly any friction and you slide down very fast.

So this ball accelerates faster from the start.

G-force or acceleration

BlurHashrollercoaster

Every time you change speed, your body accelerates.This acceleration is sometimes called ‘G-force’. In a rollercoaster, you usually experience a G-force that does not exceed 5 g. What does that mean? By accelerating, you seem to weigh 5 times as much. You are pressed into your seat with a force of 5 times your body weight.

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