The Falling Slinky model approximates a slinky using twenty masses connected with light springs. The slinky is suspended from one end and released.  Two actions will occur simultaneously when it is released hanging at rest from its equilibrium position - it will fall and it will collapse.  What happens to the bottom when it begins its fall?

1. The bottom end will move up initially.
2. The bottom end will move down initially.
3. The bottom end will remain at the same point for a short time before it begins to move.

The Falling Slinky model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double click the ejs_mech_newton_FallingSlinky.jar file to run the program if Java is installed.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java.