Related papers: Sliding rope paradox
We discuss the twin paradox or the clock paradox under the small velocity approximation of special relativity. In this paper the traveller twin of the standard twin parable sets out with a non-relativistic speed for the trip leaving behind…
Many researchers tried to understand/explain the geometric reasons for paradoxical mobility of a mechanical linkage, i.e. the situation when a linkage allows more motions than expected from counting parameters and constraints. Bond theory…
The study of the motion of a rigid body on a plane (RBP motion) is usually one of the most challenging topics that students face in introductory physics courses. In this paper, we discuss a couple of problems which are typically used in…
We study the onset of the bootstrap percolation transition as a model of generalized dynamical arrest. We develop a new importance-sampling procedure in simulation, based on rare events around "holes", that enables us to access bootstrap…
The double-cone ascending an inclined V-rail is a common exhibit used for demonstrating concepts related to center-of-mass in introductory physics courses. While the conceptual explanation is well-known--the widening of the ramp allows the…
Two paradoxical aspects of the prevailing kinetic equations are presented. One is related to the usual understanding of distribution function and the other to the usual understanding of the phase space. With help of simple counterexamples…
Problems involving rotating systems analyzed from an inertial frame, without invoking fictitious forces, is something that freshman students find difficult to understand in an introductory mechanics course. One of the problems that I…
A capacitor paradox is an electromagnetic problem designed to show the limits of circuit theory which considers the connection of two ideal capacitors, one charged and the second discharged. A blind solution to this problem leads to the…
Astrophysical paradoxes are the paradoxes of physics. The main motivation of a formulated paradox is clearly recognized in the scientific environment because the phenomenon of a paradox itself has become interesting. There is an explanation…
The purpose of this paper is to show the magic of physics by showing the physics of magic. What usually makes magic tricks interesting is that something unexpected occurs. Similarly, demonstrations are interesting inasmuch as they produce…
I discuss the influence of adding the air resistance and the kinetic friction to the classical mechanics homework-problem: finding the motion of a body sliding down a hemispherical hill. For a physically realistic ($\propto v^2$) form of…
Paradoxes are a relatively frequent occurrence in physics. The nature of their genesis is diverse and they are found in all branches of physics. There are a number of general and special classifications of paradoxes, but there are no…
The subject is brake orbits for the 3-body problem: orbits where all velocities are zero at some instant. We extract a paradox and a mystery out of a recent database of 30 non-collision periodic brake orbits for the equal mass 3-body…
In this study, we examine introductory physics students' ability to perform analogical reasoning between two isomorphic problems which employ the same underlying physics principles but have different surface features. Three hundred and…
A model is constructed and a paradox concerning the proper direction and magnitude of the external force to maintain the equilibrium state of a parallel plate capacitor system is raised. By a thorough study of the model using different…
A simple model is proposed for the buckling and coiling instability of a viscous "fluid rope" falling on a plane. By regarding a fluid rope as a one-dimensional flow, this model accounts for only the axial and shared viscous forces. Our…
We investigate the tension distribution in systems of mass-less ropes under different loading conditions. For a two-rope system, we demonstrate how the breaking scenario depends on the applied force dynamics: rapid pulling causes the lower…
The evaluation of variation in oscillation time period of a simple pendulum as its mass varies proves a rich source of discussion in a physics class-room, overcoming erroneous notions carried forward by students as to what constitutes a…
In a companion paper, we discuss students' ability to take advantage of what they learn from a solved problem and transfer their learning to solve a quiz problem that has different surface features but the same underlying physics…
We analyze a simple problem in elasticity: the \emph{initial} motion of an elastic bar that after being hanged from an end is suddenly released. In a second problem a point mass is attached on the top of the bar. The analytical solutions…