Just wanted to note a slight alternative. Don't know if it helps the
separation problem but results are spectacular.
I used a bowling ball, dropped from about 1.5 meters to a thinly
carpeted, tiled, then concrete floor. I would balance a super-ball in
one of the finger holes. The super ball would hit the high ceiling
pretty hard--if I kept it really on top when dropping. Otherwise it
would usually fly well out into the class (had them protect their faces,
just in case). There was a little bit of noise--actually my bowling
ball drops (yes more than one each semester) could be heard throughout
the entire Science building--both floors!
rwt
--
Richard Tarara
Professor Emeritus
Saint Mary's College
NEW INTERNATIONAL ENERGY SIMULATOR AVAILABLE
COMING SOON: COMPLETE SELF-PACED COMPUTER BASED COURSE ON WORLD ENERGY.
free Physics educational software http://sites.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html