PIRA 1D50.10 Central Forces: Ball on a String

• A tennis ball is tied to a one meter string.

• Twirl the ball in a vertical circle.

• When the ball and string are in the vertical position release the string.

• You may have students predict the trajectory for this point before releasing the ball.

Photo Shows the Demonstration Used at the University of Texas at Austin.

Illustration below is courtesy of the University of Minnesota.

Last Updated 1/98 - Unversity of Texas at Austin Physics Dept. - All Rights Reserved.