Image: DisneyWith a slinky, the object in question has a set amount of potential energy right up until you push it down the stairs Mexican Telenova style.

The only question is whether it’s static, which is potential energy, or kinetic energy. Something possesses energy whether it’s stationary or in motion. That’s where potential and kinetic energy come into play.

The Law of Conservation states that energy can’t be created, but it also can’t be destroyed. All you need to understand is the basic stuff to appreciate Slinky Dog Dash.Īn object motion stays in motion. This isn’t an exam, and you won’t be tested later. Some of the physics principles at play are the Law of Conservation, potential and kinetic energy, gravity, and Newton’s First Law of Motion. Even though Slinky Dog Dash is only two minutes long, it does a remarkable job of highlighting the main scientific applications of the Slinky. They wanted to display the scientific aspects of the slinky during the brief roller coaster ride. Image: DisneyWhen Imagineers learned that they would build a roller coaster based on the concept, they delighted in the possibilities. She coined the name, Slinky, and the two of them sold the famous department store, Gimbels, on the idea. She thought these small springs could become educational but entertaining toys. Thankfully, James' wife, Betty, envisioned a different usage. The inventor imagined many practical military applications wherein the springs would prevent objects from falling at unwelcome moments. James deduced that the addition of a spring to these instruments would keep them stable in such scenarios. Sailors passed along stories of their instruments struggling in the face of stormy weather. A retired Navy Engineer, Richard James, noticed a problem while he worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard toward the end of World War II. In this way, it mirrors the Slinky itself. It’s a brilliant demonstration of high-level physics concepts like kinetic energy, gravity, and the impact of momentum.

Image: DisneySure, Epcot may have the reputation as Disney’s park for infotainment, but the most scientific ride at Walt Disney World is Slinky Dog Dash. The Experience: Mimicking the concept of a slinky on a roller coaster The Trick: Building a giant spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!

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