How do Slinkies work?

[pkgirl]

Sorry guys, but I was lying awake wondering about the science behind slinkies and I was
wondering how do they keep going when you push them across the edge of the staircase.

Random i know but it intrigued me.

``_MeL_``

:wav:

[MichaelB]

"some people are like slinkies- not much use, but fun to push down stairs"

Basically, the slinky works by inertia and displaced energy/momentum. when the slinky hits the step down from where you pushed it, the energy from that movement goes straight down. Because a step cannot move, the energy is directed back up, and the inertia of the forward movement, combines with the upward energy, pushes it forwards.
Because it is a spring shape, the coil will automatically fall on top of each other.

Anyway, that's my theory. Don';t know the exact thinky, but oh well.

[pkgirl]

Thanks for that I appreciated it.

[limegreen19]

Hey MichealB! Did you get that from my signature or have you heard it somewhere else??

[MichaelB]

yepyep, I thought it was funny.