Re: Inertia and Lenz's Law

["Tom McCarthy" <TMccarthy@steds.org>]

Tom McCarthy
Saint Edward's School
1895 St. Edward's Drive
Vero Beach, FL  32963
561-231-4136
Physics and Astronomy
  I have one that astounds students.  I get flat poker chips, and stack them
in alternating colors (using school colors, of course).  With a steel rule
that has a thickness that is less than a chip, I rapidly wave it back and
forth, each time knocking out the bottom chip.  It sorts them and astonishes
the students.  But, like the tablecloth, is this not really a demo of the
Property of Inertia?
> You don't do that one with standard interlocking poker chips, do you?
> They are the ones that are almost automatic to stack. I've only rarely
> seen any other kind outside a casino, though when I was a kid we used
> flat, smooth cardboard chips.
>
> Leigh


I got them at a billiard supply store.  They are flat, plastic, half-dollar
to silver-dollar sized chips.  The are bas relief (recessed inscribed) with
a fine design that has no affect upon the sliding.  It is a really grand and
simple demo.  The students just love the ordered chaos involved.  Big stack
stands still while bottommost chips go flying everywhere!