[Virginia Tech Department of Physics]

Lecture Demonstrations

Mechanics
   

M36: The Monkey and the Hunter

 

Purpose: To demonstrate that vertical acceleration is independent of horizontal motion.

Description:

 

A spring actuated gun aimed with a laser sight at a model of a monkey suspended by an electromagnet near the ceiling (Catwalk or high pole).
When the gun fires a 2.5 cm ball bearing, it passes a photogate causing a magnetic field to briefly cancel the magnet holding the monkey, thus releasing the "monkey." Since the acceleration downward of the monkey and the ball are the same, the ball's parabolic trajectory and the monkey's vertical trajectory meet near the floor.

Explain that when the monkey sees that the gun is aimed at him, he decides to fool the hunter by letting go at the instant he sees the flash of the gun. This, of course, is a grave error due to his ignorance of the independence of vertical and horizontal motion.

Instruction in the use of this equipment and practice ahead of time are essential.

Equipment List: Storage Location: CHEMP 130A

 

Spring actuated gun with photogate and cord, and laser sight D2.3
  Control box with power cord, drop box, target, long phone cord, projectiles D2.3
  Table clamp for launcher H3.2
  Drop box on support pole with backdrop Between the door and A1

References:

Manual: None   Setup Notes: M36 PIRA #: 1D60.30
Manufacturer(s): Pasco #ME-6853 Other school's Demonstration web pages

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