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Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 07:19:00 +0200--
From: Mark Sylvester
Subject: Re: The Olympics
John Barrer's egg drop project undoubtedly rotates because of air
resistance. A significant couple results from the fact that a structure
like the one he describes has the force of gravity acting at the centre of
mass, somewhere in the egg, significantly displaced from the "centre of air
resistance" on the whole structure. Sky divers exploit this effect by
arching their back and sticking out their limbs in order to fall belly-down.
Mark
John Barrer wrote:
Doug - I see your point, BUT if that's so, then "how
come" an egg drop project that is top-heavy will
rapidly tumble on its way to the floor. I have seen
many toothpick projects with the egg perched on top of
an elaborate energy-absorbing structure quickly rotate
in free fall so that the egg lands first! John Barrere