published by
the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy
written by
Martin Simon
This item is a lecture demonstration on the topic of inertia. It features a massive ball suspended by a string with a string below. Using a rod, the demonstrator pulls slowly or jerks down on the lower string. A steady pull breaks the upper string; a jerk breaks the lower string. This page shows an animation to illustrate how the demonstration should appear in the physics classroom.
This item is part of a much larger collection of multimedia teaching resources which includes a database of demonstrations, simulations, and video clips, compiled by the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Please note that this resource requires
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=8434">Simon, Martin. UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball. Los Angeles: UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, January 19, 2008.</a>
M. Simon, (UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, Los Angeles, 2003), WWW Document, (https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull).
M. Simon, UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball (UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, Los Angeles, 2003), <https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull>.
Simon, M. (2008, January 19). UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy: https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull
Simon, Martin. UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball. Los Angeles: UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, January 19, 2008. https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull (accessed 13 May 2025).
Simon, Martin. UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball. Los Angeles: UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2003. 19 Jan. 2008. 13 May 2025 <https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull>.
%A Martin Simon %T UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball %D January 19, 2008 %I UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy %C Los Angeles %U https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull %O image/gif
%0 Electronic Source %A Simon, Martin %D January 19, 2008 %T UCLA Instructional Resource Lab: Inertia Ball %I UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy %V 2025 %N 13 May 2025 %8 January 19, 2008 %9 image/gif %U https://demoweb.physics.ucla.edu/content/50-inertia-ball-jerk-and-pull
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