Flextrack - Physics Demonstrations - Flextrack | Physics Undergraduate Labs

If the track is too steep, the ball will slide rather than roll, introducing friction losses and producing shorter launch distances. Test each configuration before class.

Purpose

Demonstrates that a ball bearing's final kinetic energy depends only on its change in height, not the path taken. Students see that different track configurations with the same start and end heights produce identical horizontal launch distances, confirming path-independence of conservative forces.

Red flexible track mounted on a blackboard with magnetic clips, shaped in a wavy path with two dips, elevated at the left end and lower at the right

Red flexible track mounted on a blackboard with magnetic clips, shaped in a smooth single-arc path, elevated at the left end and lower at the right

Figure 1: Flextrack in a wavy configuration on the blackboard. Magnetic clips hold the track at adjustable positions while maintaining fixed start and end heights.

Figure 2: Flextrack in a simpler single-arc configuration. Same start and end heights as the wavy path produce the same horizontal launch distance.

Flextrack

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Safety Warnings

Warning: Rolling vs. Sliding

Purpose