Ballistics Car

Larger Car Mass for Smoother Operation

This is another demonstration of a basic law of motion that students may not quite believe at first viewing. The car carries a vertically directed spring-loaded barrel. Drop a steel ball down the barrel, cock the spring and give the car a push. The ball is ejected but coincidentally falls back into the barrel while the car continues to roll. The spring offers two different tensions. The car is our low-friction Hall’s Carriage.