Stacked Ball Drop – Supernova explosions

If a ball is dropped from a given height it cannot bounce higher than the original height. However, if two balls are dropped simultaneously,the one on top of the other, then it is possible for the top ball to bounce above the drop height. Some of the momentum of the lower ball is transferred to the top ball. Under the right conditions the top ball in a system of four balls, stacked one on top of the other, can rise to a height of 225 times the original drop height. This effect nicely describes the ”core bounce” during a supernova.

Participation Days:

13/05/2017

Organization:

3rd Gymnasioum & 4th Lyceioum of Pyrgos

Georgia Kaldi, Physicist, Teacher

Aristeidis Taulopoulos, Physicist, Teacher