This paper describes a simple experiment that lets first-year physics and engineering students discover an important physical property of a Slinky. The restoring force for the fundamental oscillation frequency is provided only by those coils between the support and the Slinky center of mass.

Topics
Harmonic oscillator, Hooke's law, Series expansion, Educational aids, Public policy and governance
1.
R. C.
 
Cross
 and
M. S.
 
Wheatland
, “
Modeling a falling Slinky
,”
Am. J. Phys.
 
80
,
1057
(
Dec.
 
2013
).
Google Scholar
 
2.
Frank
 
Crawford
,
Waves
, Vol.
III
(
McGraw-Hill
,
1968
), p.
81
.
Google Scholar
 
3.
Mikolaj
 
Sawicki
, “
Static elongation of a suspended SlinkyTM
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
40
,
276
–
277
(
May
 
2002
).
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1516379
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
P.
 
Gash
, “
The Fundamental Slinky Oscillation Frequency Using a Center-of-Mass Model
,” http://www.Slinky-frequency-falling.com (
Jan.
 
2015
).
Google Scholar
 
© 2016 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2016
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.