Rileys Freaky Fridays

Ballistics demonstrations are very cool. Shoot projectiles at moving targets. Here’s a classic:

1) A metal tube is suspended by an electromagnet.

2) Another tube is pointed directly at the suspended tube. There are 2 joined wires at its opening. Separating these wires, will disconnect the electromagnet’s circuit, causing the metal tube (1) to drop.

3) Shoot a metal ball bearing through the second tube, causing the wires to part and tube 1 to fall. The ball will also fall as it leaves tube 2.

4) The ball will shoot into the falling tube (1) every time. Why? Because the ball and tube both fall at exactly the same rate.

Here’s what makes it interesting. It doesn’t matter how far you separate the tubes from one another. As long as they are always at the same hieght, you can shoot the ball into the falling tube.

Cool!