Never ending Slinky?
 

Has any one ever thought what would happen if you put a slinky down an up escalator?
If you could time it right it would never stop...
Any thoughts? Or anyone want to try?

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

I think that an escalator step may be too wide, so the slinky would go down the first step and stop on the second.

Just a thought.

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

Even if it does keep going down steps, there's the question of whether the 'slink' will be fast enough to keep up with the escalator going upwards, otherwise the slinky will just end up at the top anyway.

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

What if you made the slinky of heavier material and had it xtra large....

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

I'd have to think about it more, but I suspect that gravity makes all slinkies "slink" at the same speed. Actually, I take that back, I think momentum comes into play. Anyway, it'd be easier to just change the speed of the escalator. But you're right about the size issue.

I have this feeling that somehow violates some law of conservation, but I can't justify it. So, for now, I think that it'd work.

Does anyone have access to an escalator?

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

My Prediction:

The slinky will go faster then the escalator, it will stay on (from the top) for probably 20-30 seconds.

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

Nothing is being created or destroyed. Yes theoretically it would work but you would need to change variables around. I reality however the best you could do is keep it going a long time.

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

yeah i think it could happen.

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

me too. i think its possible. but itd take a lot of trial and error. and do slinkies accelerate the rate they slink after a bit? ive had slinky races so i know not all slinkies slink at the same speed. maybe its te initial drop speed that matters too hmm.

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

You could use closed loop control with some form of sensor array (I have no idea what you'd use - that's for people with more free time and money than I have to figure out :) ) monitoring the position and "speed" of the Slinky and controlling the speed of the escalator to keep it "slinking" in place. So who wants to commandeer an escalator for this project?

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

I think I can't do a slinky on a regular set of steps... :cool:

:rolleyes:

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

Why control the slinky's speed, when the best way to accomplish this is to have a speed regulator on the escalator itself. Slow it down or speed it up to make it in sync with the slinky's natural speed.

I would love to see someone do this btw..

Anyone have ready access to a escalator to do some trial and error testing??

I know there were a million of them in Atlanta.. lol

edit:
Looks like it has been tried before, and it was a failure.. :(
http://www.20six.co.uk/weblogCategory/uy0wqr7qpr2t
I guess the stair's individual tread run did play a factor into this experiment..
edit 2:

On another site I saw dealing with this kind of idea, it was suggested instead of an escalator type deal, you can use an elevated conveyor belt of some kind..
Elevate it enough for the slinky to actually perform, but not to fast to beat the belt's motion, and you could have what looks like a motionless object that is actually in motion all the time.

It would be like.. lol doing an MJ style Moonwalk on the belt..
Actually, speaking of walking a treadmill may work for that at an elevated angle..
Now I'm gonna have to buy/find a slinky and test this @ my dad's house on the treadmill there.. :)

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

classic, old quote from www.bash.org (warning, not that appropriate for work):

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

i wonder if "slink" can be used as a verb ... so many obvious words here

Re: Never ending Slinky?
 

To slink around? Sure why not?