As a geek, science is just a daily part of our lives and it’s really cool when we get to see science put on display in an beautiful way so we can look on in awe. Fortunately for us geeks there is a YouTube channel dedicated to showcasing the beauty of science, it’s called Veritasium.
If you haven’t seen Veritasium then you’re missing out on some really great videos. I have stumbled upon a video that showcases a simple slinky and surprisingly there is some very interesting science at work.
There are many things in the world around us that happen so fast that we completely miss them. Our interaction with the world around us seems instantaneous but that is just our perception of things. If we slow things down a bit, perhaps with a high speed camera, we begin to see our world very differently.
I have always enjoyed watching high speed footage of everyday actions and I have learned quite a bit by spending time observing things in slow motion. The high speed camera itself is a tool, just like a microscope or a telescope, that allows us to observe things that we can’t normally see with our naked eye.
In an amazing and intellectually provocative video posted by Veritasium, a slinky is dropped from just above eye level and the fall of the slinky is then captured by a high speed camera. Once the slinky begins to fall, something unusual begins to happen; the bottom of slinky remains in place while the top appears to collapse in a downward motion. How is this possible? Watch the video below to find out.
For more great videos like this head to the Veritasium YouTube Channel.