2 Balls on slope, one is faster...

[Charlie Brown ARN]

The apparatus is very similar to Pendulums. The time between swing repetitions depends only on the length of the support cable / arm not the weight of the bob or the width of the swing. A longer cable / arm takes more time to repeat. The ball on the lower path is most like a shorter pendulum cable / arm because it dips more. I would be entertained by watching a rolling ball on a complex track with gently sloping upward end sections at the same height where the ball starting at the heigest part of the first end ramp would return and turn around several times on lower parts of the end ramps until losses were so much that it would not climb into the rend ramps. Eventually the ball will stop moving.

Aloha, Charlie

[kenbo0422]

OK, here's my analysis:   the 'faster' ball drops through the dip and turns PE into KE.  In the return to its original track, the KE isn't turned completely back to PE.  Why?  it isn't returning to the same height as where it started.  A net KE effect remains.  Still, the KE gained through the initial drop has given it a 'head start', even though the distance travelled is greater due to the dip in the track.  Now, how can this 'gain' in position be utilized?  Overall speed has increased (mean speed), so there is a time factor that can be used.


It was rudely pointed out that both balls were travelling at the same speed when they exited the track.  I will only concur when someone can do accurate measurement, not 'scientifically' looking at a low res video and making the 'call'.

I don't think this little device will give any more efficiency to anything unless it is used as part of another process.  Maybe even water flow.  However, I don't think it should be discarded because someone puts out an answer that is scientifically based, but not proven.  Experiment with this one and see what happens.