- #1
Rubin
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- 0
Hello Physics Forum!
My name is Adam Rubin. I am a magician and I write a monthly column called, Braindrops for Magic Magazine. I have a challenging physics problem on my hands that I thought you might find interesting. In 1926, a brilliant inventor named Stewart James published a trick called, "A Match for Gravity."
"The effect: A piece of string, about one meter long, is tied to a kitchen match. The other end of the string is fastened to a watch borrowed from a spectator. The performer holds an ordinary lead pencil horizontal to the ground in one hand while holding the wooden match in the other hand. After the end of the string with the attached watch is draped over the pencil, and the end with the match is pulled taut, the spectator’s watch is left dangling five or so feet above the ground. The magician then asks the audience what will happen if the match is released. The obvious answer is that the watch will hit the floor and break. But when the performer dramatically let's go of the match, the piece of string quickly winds around the pencil and suspends the watch in midair."
This is an incredible stunt and I encourage you to try it out for yourself. I have been experimenting with this principle for some time, using different lengths of string and varying objects on either end. Using only trial and error, I have discovered that two small keys on a key ring work quite well paired with heavier objects up to 200 g.
My goal is to discover a formula for this trick. Besides the weight of the two objects, other variables include; the length of the string, the angle of release, the circumference of the pencil, the material of the string, the number of times the string wraps around the pencil and perhaps some more that I don't even recognize.
I would love any guidance the Physics Forum can provide. If it would help, I can post a video of me performing the trick. There are many entertaining presentations possible for this simple stunt and if a solid formula was available, the trick could be done on a much larger more dangerous scale. The possibilities are very exciting. I hope I have piqued your interest and I look forward to your response.
Thank you in advance,
Adam
My name is Adam Rubin. I am a magician and I write a monthly column called, Braindrops for Magic Magazine. I have a challenging physics problem on my hands that I thought you might find interesting. In 1926, a brilliant inventor named Stewart James published a trick called, "A Match for Gravity."
"The effect: A piece of string, about one meter long, is tied to a kitchen match. The other end of the string is fastened to a watch borrowed from a spectator. The performer holds an ordinary lead pencil horizontal to the ground in one hand while holding the wooden match in the other hand. After the end of the string with the attached watch is draped over the pencil, and the end with the match is pulled taut, the spectator’s watch is left dangling five or so feet above the ground. The magician then asks the audience what will happen if the match is released. The obvious answer is that the watch will hit the floor and break. But when the performer dramatically let's go of the match, the piece of string quickly winds around the pencil and suspends the watch in midair."
This is an incredible stunt and I encourage you to try it out for yourself. I have been experimenting with this principle for some time, using different lengths of string and varying objects on either end. Using only trial and error, I have discovered that two small keys on a key ring work quite well paired with heavier objects up to 200 g.
My goal is to discover a formula for this trick. Besides the weight of the two objects, other variables include; the length of the string, the angle of release, the circumference of the pencil, the material of the string, the number of times the string wraps around the pencil and perhaps some more that I don't even recognize.
I would love any guidance the Physics Forum can provide. If it would help, I can post a video of me performing the trick. There are many entertaining presentations possible for this simple stunt and if a solid formula was available, the trick could be done on a much larger more dangerous scale. The possibilities are very exciting. I hope I have piqued your interest and I look forward to your response.
Thank you in advance,
Adam