another interesting video

[mr_bojangles]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZF01JCm-sI&feature=related

im not sure why but this surprised me a tad

seems almost illogical, same starting height and same ending point, one has way  more speed (less time) and covers a further distance vertically and laterally, and appears to have more momentum as well


could this be used as an offset timing mechanism in a gravity type design perhaps?

just thought id share...

[Groundloop]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhOiXCRQu0A

G.

[mscoffman]

@Groundloop;

I gotta think about that one. Especially in relation to magnets.
HMMMM...

:S:MarkSCoffman

[petersone]

Hi Groundloop
Certainly looks counter intuitive,I suppose we can assume the balls are the same mass?

[DreamThinkBuild]

Haven't seen that before. It looks like it picking up velocity from the first steep valley and the second is slightly lower valley. If we combine the two we should have steep edges going into a gentle sloping bowl. The idea that popped into my head was to create an energy well where the ball seems to be constantly seeing a slope that is smooth in the middle but steep towards the edges. Two springs could control slope of the bowl from the weight of the ball as it rolls toward the steep edge it force the other spring to pull back causing the ball to see a slope in that direction.

Here's a picture to make it easier to understand. Friction would kill it eventually unless some magnet system could be used to push it back as it tips.  I can't build or test it for another two months due to an accident and surgery, I severed the tendon in my thumb which is not fun. Maybe someone can add better ideas to it.