Mechanics and Heat

Abstract

Many people, at one time or another, have used a demonstration piece called the “Impact Ball Apparatus,” or have played with a commercial version, called an “Executive Desk Toy.” Fig. 1 shows a scaled-up version which has been built as a hallway demonstration. The apparatus pictured consists of a row of bowling balls that just touch one another and are suspended in such a way that all the balls swing in the same plane.