http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Droping-a-Slinky-Q-A-tp6851732p6853179.html
with the dynamics. You can see a video here
On Sat, Oct 1, 2011 at 7:07 PM, ERIC P. CHARLES <
> Below are links to some science videos nifty for two reasons.
>
> 1) They ask and answers a pretty cool question: What happens when you hold a
> slinky out at shoulder height, so it is extended down (the bottom still off
> the ground) and you let go. Think about it for a second. How does the top
> part of the slinky move, how does the bottom part move, how does the center
> of mass move? A good physics thought experiment! (If you are having trouble
> imagining it, here is the question:
>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGIZKETKKdw)
>
> 2) The answer illustrates the weirdness of trying to apply the term
> 'information' to all possible situations. At about 1:30, the physics prof
> offers an explanation for what happens, and (for just a second) talks as if
> one part of the slinky is transmitting 'information' about its movement to
> another part of the slinky, which is bizarre way. The slinky itself is
> moving, it is not transmitting information about the movement, it IS moving.
> Why would you say that it takes time for 'the information to propagate',
> instead of simply saying that 'it takes time for the slinky to move'. Weird,
> weird, weird.
>
> At any rate, Here is the cool answer:
>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCMmmEEyOO0> (and it continues here:
http://www.youtube.com/wa! tch?v=oKb2tCtpvNU&NR=1)
>
> This seemed like the type of thing lots of people on the list would get a
> kick out of... so... hope you do.
>
> Eric
>
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