Posted by Scott Ellis (216.87.95.64) on December 28, 2002 at 17:08:22:
In Reply to: Nova Bouncer ? posted by Rainer on December 28, 2002 at 13:35:57:
Hi Rainer,
Thanks for your post. I have also seen this toy and been fascinated by the apparent paradox. But as far as I can tell, there is nothing unusual going on, though. It is a simple matter of conservation of energy in an elastic collision. It is the same phenomenon that allows a spacecraft to acquire a high speed by going around a planet using the "gravitational slingshot" effect.
Here is a description of the physics behind it:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/doubal.html
And here is a similar toy sold online called the "Astro Blaster:"
http://www.fascinations.com/Astro.htm
And here is a poor man's version using a basketball and a tennis ball (often demonstrated in college physics courses):
http://demoroom.physics.ncsu.edu/html/demos/166.html
Best,
Scott
: Hi Folks,
: first off all also a big Merry Xmas and a happy new year to all of you. I'm back from my little hoiday trip, ready for some spinning action *grin*.
: Question about a toy a saw in a shop display. Sadfully it was evening and I wasn't able to buy it. Shops were already closed and we left the next morning. It was called 'Nova Bouncer' or something like that. Let me describe: five rubber balls ( those bouncer thingies) of decreasing diameter assembled together like a little hanoi tower ( biggest one at the bottom, smallest one at the top). A little stick showed up at the top, but it was not clear if it went the whole 'bouncer tower'. The advertisement said, if you hold it at the top(stick) and let it drop onto a hard surface it would bounce back UP TO 5 TIMES HIGHER than the drop height was...UFFFFFF. Has anyone seen this toy in action or knows something about it?
: Have Fun,
: Rainer