Never ending Slinky?

[anna~marie]

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?

[Bcahn836]

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.

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by Bcahn836

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.

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.

[anna~marie]

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

[sciguy125]

Originally Posted by anna~marie

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

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?

[Kyle Love]

My Prediction:

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

[mechanicalbrain]

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.

yeah i think it could happen.

[greencactus3]

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.

[Travis Hoffman]

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?

[Ryan M.]

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

[Elgin Clock]

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

The problem wasn't that the steps were too deep, rather too wide - the slinky would decend the step and land in the middle of the next, then 'slink' again to the edge of the step and stop.

I guess the stair's individual tread run did play a factor into this experiment..

So does anyone know where I can find a thin-stepped escalator?

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..

[Yan Wang]

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

#188572 +(2790)- [X]

<TRON> if my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

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.

San Diego Zoo has slanted moving sidewalks. They go pretty fast, too. You have to be careful getting on. (Jump and hang on tight!)

They're not as steep as escalators, but with their speed, they might be able to drive a slinky. Plus, they're longer than a typical escalator, over 100 feet, judging from a look at the map. (They're called "escalators," and they both go UP in two sections--but they have no steps.)

I don't know what the zoo staff would think of a slinky project, but the animals would have something new to watch.

[Cyberguy34000]

A like anna~marie's idea. How's after the webhug sound people? We shall unleash a tide of never ending slinkys! YAY!