The falling slinky

W. G. Unruh

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arXiv · 1110.4368

The falling slinky

W. G. Unruh

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Abstract

The slinky, released from rest hanging under its own weight, falls in a peculiar manner. The bottom stays at rest until a wave hits it from above. Two cases -- one unphysical one where the slinky is able to pass through itself, and the other where the coils of the slinky collide creating a shock wave travelling down the slinky -- are analysed. In the former case, the bottom begins to move much later than in the latter.

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W. G. Unruh. 2011-10-19. The falling slinky. https://arxiv.org/abs/1110.4368

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