written by Wolfgang Christian

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.

• Download ejss_model_FallingSlinky.zip - 4135kb Compressed File

Published April 9, 2019
Last Modified April 9, 2019

EJS source code for JavaScript version of the Falling Slinky simulation.

• Download ejss_src_FallingSlinky.zip - 16kb Compressed File

Last Modified August 28, 2022