ROMAN ARCH KIT (羅馬拱橋)

Theory:
The central piece of the construction is the most important piece of the bridge. The
most common method use it is to use thick and heavy pier to ensure the balance of the
arch bridge. The pieces of the bridge will squeeze each other out, giving an outward force
and the side pieces will get force from the side pillar too, so that the bridge will be able to
hold together. If the sides of the bridge affected by external force to move the bridge will
be easily collapse. So we rely on the wedge-shaped arch stone pressing force to support
each other using friction.

Used:
The arch structure not only used on bridge built also used to build above ground
buildings and gates.

(building, from wikipedia) (gate, from wikipedia)

Discussion:
The bridge is so strong that it doesn’t need any glue not only to held it together but
also for a person to stand on it. This bridge has several key pieces that can’t be omitted.
1
For one, the piece in the center of the bridge, is what held it together, without it, the bridge
will collapse. The bottom tow of the bridge is also what held the bridge together, it is the
foundation of the bridge that has to be there.

2
Double Cone (雙錐體)

Theory:
(a) The center of mass of the cone is descending.
The motion may be described by the energy conservation law for the cone-Earth as
follows: (1/2)mv²+ (1/2)Iω²+ mgw = constant
I = (3/5)mR²= rotational inertia of double cone with respect to symmetry axis
Where m = mass (g), R = radius (cm), v = velocity (m/s2) and ω= angular velocity (rad/s),
w = instantaneous height of center of mass of double cone over zero level of potential
energy.
(b) This happens because the diverging structure enables the center of gravity of the double
cone to go down whereas at the same time the double cone itself climbs up the rails. In
this case the center of gravity of the double cone is lowered more by the diverging
structure than it is raised by the climbing process.

Discussion:
Before explained the theory it is mysterious phenomenon. The normal wheel will only
roll down the rails, but the double cone don’t. Double cone will stop at top of rails and wont
roll down again. If it’s friction less it will rolling up because the factor to let the double cone
rolling up is not the friction forces.

3
BALANCING BIRD (平衡鸟)

Theory:
In most object it is not clear where the center of mass is. If the object has a strange
shape then you cannot know by looking at it where the center of mass is. If an object has a
uniform shape, like a pencil, or square, the center of its mass is easy to determine. A pencil
had its center of mass at the middle of it, while a square had it in the center. For not
uniform shape objects, you need to use trial and error. You must try balancing the object on
different points until you find the point where the object is perfectly balanced and doesn’t
fall over, the point is the center of the gravity.

Used:
The center of mass is an important point on an aircraft, which significantly affects the
stability of the aircraft. To ensure the aircraft is stable enough to be safe to fly, the center
of mass must fall within specified limits.

Discussion:
The balancing bird has its center of mass at its beak, which is why it can stay when
located on its beak. Its masses are strategically distributed on their wings so that bird will
balanced and rotate on any solid object until its torque restores it to its stationary position.
If one part of the bird’s changed even a little bit, the center of the mass will changed and
resulting in the bird won’t be able to stand on its beak which mean the beak isn’t the center
of the gravity anymore.

4
 NEWTON’S CRADLE (牛顿摆)

Theory:
Newton’s cradle, named after Sir Isaac Newton, is a device that demonstrates
conservation of momentum and energy via a series of swinging spheres. When one end
is raised and released, it bumps into the stationary spheres and a force is transmitted
through the stationary spheres and pushes the last ball upward. An ideal cradle is
designed to have a small initial separation between the balls even though most don’t.
For two balls colliding, only the two equations for conservation of momentum and
energy are needed to solve the two unknown resulting velocities.
mAuA + mBuB = mAvA + mBvB
5
 For three or more simultaneously colliding elastic balls, the relative compressibility
of the colliding surfaces are the additional variables that determine the outcome.

Used:
The most common application is that of a desktop executive toy. Another use is as
an educational physics demonstration, as an example of conservation of momentum
and conservation of energy. A similar principle, the propagation of waves in solids, was
used in the gun on early fighter aircraft.

(aircraft, from wikipedia)

Discussion:
If changes are made on the types of balls on this experiment, for example, changing
the steel balls into elastic balls, this will not change the action (final velocity) of the
cradle as long the change is made in each ball. However, if the balls are changed into
elastic balls, it will eventually stop. This is because when colliding, some of the energy is
changed into other types of energy so that the speed will gradually decrease and
eventually stop. The lost energy can be changed into heat and friction. If one of the balls
is a bit lower than the other balls, the energy is still conserved but the momentum is not,
because some of the energy will change into friction and others.