Equivalent descent time

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  • Right triangle shown above is made of taut string.
  • Each side contains a brass ball that is free to slide along the string segment.
  • Time of descent, from top to bottom of segment, is equivalent for each of the three balls.
  • This is true for any right triangle, with vertical hypotenuse,  as the side lengths are reduced by the same factor as the rate of acceleration.
  • String is mounted on white-board material so instructor can derive equations alongside triangle using a dry erase marker.
  • Located in L02, section B3