Chapter 1:
Slipping Between Falling Drops

To access the pdf file for all the video links and journal citations for the items in the book, click on the pdf icon for "Chapter References & Comments” at the top of the page, next to Armando Armadillo. (Go to www.Adobe.com for a free pdf reader.) To access the updates and new items (not in the book), click on any "update" or "new" in the following list.
- 1.1 Run or walk in the rain? update July 2007
- 1.2 Traffic platoons and gridlock
- 1.3 Shock waves on the freeway
- 1.4 Minimum trailing distance for a car
- 1.5 Running a yellow light
- 1.6 Spin out during hard braking update Mar 2009
- 1.7 To slide or not to slide
- 1.8 Skidding to a stop
- 1.9 SHORT STORY: Some records for skid marks
- 1.10 Woodpeckers and big-horn sheep and concussion
- 1.11 SHORT STORY: The game of g's update May 2009
- 1.12 Head-on car collision update Jul 2008 update Nov 2009
- 1.13 SHORT STORY: Playing with locomotives
- 1.14 Rear-end collision and whiplash injury
- 1.15 Race-car turns
- 1.16 Sprint tracks
- 1.17 Take-off illusion
- 1.18 SHORT STORY: Air Canada Flight 143
- 1.19 Fear and trembling at the amusement park update Sep 2006 June 2014
- 1.20 SHORT STORY: Circus loop-the-loop acts
- 1.21 Catching a fly ball
- 1.22 SHORT STORY: High ball
- 1.23 Hitting a baseball update July 2008
- 1.24 Legal passes in rugby
- 1.25 Juggling update Oct 2015
- 1.26 Pole vaulting
- 1.27 Launch of an atlatl and a toad tongue
- 1.28 Slings
- 1.29 Tomahawks
- 1.30 Bolas
- 1.31 Siege machine
- 1.32 Human cannonball
- 1.33 Basketball shots update Jan 2008
- 1.34 Short story: Records in free throws
- 1.35 Hang in basketball and ballet
- 1.36 Golfing
- 1.37 SHORT STORY: Curtain of death of a meteor strike update Nov 2009
- 1.38 The high jump and the long jump update Dec 2010 July 2012 Dec 2012
- 1.39 Jumping beans update July 2007
- 1.40 Somersault of a click beetle, attack of a mantis shrimp
- 1.41 SHORT STORY: Some record lifts update Sep 2014
- 1.42 Chain collisions
- 1.43 Dropping a stack of balls
- 1.44 SHORT STORY: A crashing demonstration
- 1.45 Karate update May 2010
- 1.46 Boxing update Sep 2006 Oct 2008
- 1.47 Skywalk collapse
- 1.48 World Trade Center collapses
- 1.49 Falls from record heights update Dec 2009
- 1.50 A daring parachuting rescue
- 1.51 Cats in long falls update May 2007
- 1.52 Land diving and bungee jumping
- 1.53 Trapped in a falling elevator cab
- 1.54 SHORT STORY: Bomber crashes into Empire State Building
- 1.55 Falls in fighting, landing during parachuting
- 1.56 Beds of nails update Dec 2008
- 1.57 Hanging spoons update Jul 2008 Aug 2009 Nov 2009 July 2010
- 1.58 Trails of migrating rocks
- 1.59 Hitches update Dec 2012
- 1.60 Rock climbing update Jan 2014
- 1.61 Rock climbing by bighorn sheep
- 1.62 Pulling statues across Easter Island
- 1.63 Erecting Stonehenge
- 1.64 Lifting the blocks for the Egyptian pyramids
- 1.65 A Slinky
- 1.66 Leaning tower of blocks update Mar 07
- 1.67 Leaning tower of Pisa update June 08
- 1.68 Falling dominoes update Mar 09 Nov 10 Apr 11
- 1.69 Falling chimneys, pencils, and trees update Jan 2013
- 1.70 Breaking pencil points
- 1.71 Failure of a bridge section update Jan 2015
- 1.72 Jack-knifing of a train
- 1.73 Bowling strikes
- 1.74 Shots in pool and billiards
- 1.75 Miniature golf
- 1.76 Superball tricks update Sep 12
- 1.77 Racquetball shots update Nov 07
- 1.78 SHORT STORY: A controversial goal update Nov 07
- 1.79 Tennis
- 1.80 Bicycles and motorcycles
- 1.81 Motorcycle long jumps update Apr 09 Mar 13
- 1.82 Skateboards
- 1.83 Pitching horseshoes
- 1.84 Spinning Hula-Hoops and lassos update Nov 14
- 1.85 Yo-yo update Nov 12
- 1.86 Unwinding a yo-yo
- 1.87 Driving through the sound barrier
- 1.88 SHORT STORY: Spin test explosion
- 1.89 Kayak roll
- 1.90 Curling
- 1.91 Tightrope walk update Feb 2008
- 1.92 Bull riding update Jan 2015
- 1.93 Tearing toilet paper
- 1.94 Skipping stones and bombs update Jun 2006 Jun 2008 Jan 2012
- 1.95 Spinning ice skater
- 1.96 Spinning a book
- 1.97 Falling cat, astronaut antics, and fancy diving update Sep 2008
- 1.98 Quadruple summersault
- 1.99 Tumbling toast update June 2014
- 1.100 Ballet
- 1.101 Skiing
- 1.102 Abandoned on the ice
- 1.103 SHORT STORY: Rotation sequence matters
- 1.104 Personalities of tops
- 1.105 SHORT STORY: A headstrong suitcase
- 1.106 Tippy tops update Jan 13
- 1.107 Spinning eggs update June 2014 May 2015
- 1.108 Diabolos
- 1.109 Rattlebacks update Nov 2006
- 1.110 Wobbling coins and bottles update Apr 2009
- 1.111 Judo, aikido and Olympic wrestling
- 1.112 Bullet spin, and long passes update Mar 2008
- 1.113 Pumping playground swings
- 1.114 Incense swing update Aug 12
- 1.115 The pendulum in the pit
- 1.116 Inverted pendulums, unicycle riders
- 1.117 Carrying loads on the head
- 1.118 Carrying loads with oscillating poles
- 1.119 Coupled pendulums
- 1.120 Spring pendulum
- 1.121 The bell that would not ring
- 1.122 Spaghetti effect update Nov 2008
- 1.123 The spider and the fly
- 1.124 Footbridge and dance floor oscillation update Feb 2007 July 2008
- 1.125 Precariously balanced structures and rocks
- 1.126 Sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk
- 1.127 Detection by sand scorpion
- 1.128 Snow waves
- 1.129 Football-stadium wave
- 1.130 Body armor update Feb 2011 Oct 2015
- 1.131 Archer's paradox
- 1.132 Oscillating plants
- 1.133 Oscillating tall buildings update July 2006
- 1.134 Diving from a springboard
- 1.135 Flycasting
- 1.136 Falkland Islands battle, Big Bertha
- 1.137 Jack and the beanstalk to space
- 1.138 Spring fever and the standing of eggs update Mar 08
- 1.139 Moon madness
- 1.140 Gravity hill
- 1.141 Falling through the center of Earth update Sep 2007
- 1.142 Stretching of plastic shopping bags
- 1.143 Giant’s Causeway and starch columns update May 2007
- 1.144 Broken fingernails
- 1.145 Crumpling paper into a ball update Oct 2007
- 1.146 Playful to tragic examples of explosive expansion update Dec 2009
- 1.147 Why a hanging picture becomes crooked update Jan 2010
- 1.148 A two-spring surprise
- 1.149 Stability of a pop can
- 1.150 Wilberforce pendulum
- 1.151 Drag racing starts update Aug 2008
- 1.152 Turn or stop
- 1.153 Slipping past a bus
- 1.154 Compression line in pulled tape
- 1.155 Bobsled in a curve
- 1.156 Too quick to slide
- 1.157 The home of the Little Prince
- 1.158 Parachuting with a pumpkin
- 1.159 Pulling in a feisty fish
- 1.160 Fiddlesticks
- 1.161 Rotor on a notched stick update Sep 2009
- 1.162 Shot put and hammer throw update July 2006
- 1.163 Jumps during downhill ski race
- 1.164 Pulling a table cloth beneath dishes update Jun 2008 Dec 2007 Apr 13
- 1.165 SHORT STORY: Pulling with teeth update Jun 2008
- 1.166 Jerking chair
- 1.167 Lifting a person with fingers
- 1.168 Rockets, and a problem with an iceboat update Oct 2009 Dec 2010
- 1.169 SHORT STORY: Earth to Venus
- 1.170 A choice of hammers
- 1.171 Pressure regulator
- 1.172 Sliding a stick across fingers update Jan 2015
- 1.173 SHORT STORY: Giant tug-of-war
- 1.174 Shooting along a slope
- 1.175 Starting a car on a slippery road
- 1.176 Balancing a tire
- 1.177 Carnival bottle swing
- 1.178 Hanging goblet, ready to crash
- 1.179 Breaking a drill bit
- 1.180 Swinging watches
- 1.181 SHORT STORY: Flattening the Golden Gate Bridge
- 1.182 Hunting by railway vehicles
- 1.183 Oscillating car antenna
- 1.184 A ship's antiroll tank
- 1.185 Road corrugation update Apr 08
- 1.186 Seeing only one side of the moon
- 1.187 Intelligence satellites
- 1.188 Air drag speeds up satellite
- 1.189 Moon trip figure eight
- 1.190 Earth and sun pull on moon
- 1.191 Gravitational slingshot effect
- 1.192 Making a map of India
- 1.193 Shaving with twin blades
- 1.194 The handedness of river erosion The following are not in the book.
- 1.195 Falls over Niagara Falls new item Aug 06
- 1.196 Backpacks on bungee cords are easier to carry new item Feb 07
- 1.197 Projectile penguin from an ice hole new item Feb 07
- 1.198 Swordplay new item April 07
- 1.199 Car and train surfing new item May 07
- 1.200 Flea circus new item July 07
- 1.201 Stacking stones and bowling balls new item July 07
- 1.202 Cars on ice new item July 07 Jan 2011
- 1.203 Penn and Teller magic new item Oct 07
- 1.204 Implosion demolition new item Nov 07 Sep 09 Dec 09
- 1.205 Wheel of Death new item Dec 07
- 1.206 Falling cranes --- from silly to deadly new item Apr 08
- 1.207 Twining plants on a garden rod new item May 08
- 1.208 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull new item May 08
- 1.209 Alligator death roll new item Jul 08
- 1.210 Criss Angel magic --- floating between two buildings new item Oct 08
- 1.211 Motorcycle Ball of Death new item Nov 08
- 1.212 Bursting balloon new item Nov 08
- 1.213 Pub trick --- removing the cork from a wine bottle new item Jan 09
- 1.214 Puzzle --- bridge collapse under weight of a house new item Jan 09
- 1.215 Pedestrian throw, moose throw, camel throw new item Jan 09 May 2014
- 1.216 "Hang on a minute, lads. I've got a great idea." new item Feb 09
- 1.217 Pub trick --- balancing a hammer and a lorry new item Feb 09
- 1.218 Landing an airplane on water new item Feb 09
- 1.219 Charles Taylor's one-wheel vehicle new item Apr 09
- 1.220 Spaghetti breaking new item Jun 09
- 1.221 Pub trick --- hanging a bottle on a wall new item Jun 09
- 1.222 Pizza tossing new item Jul 09
- 1.223 Pub trick --- tying a ring hitch new item Jul 09
- 1.224 Worm grunting, and the sandworms of Dune new item Nov 09
- 1.225 Pub trick --- champagne cork as a mortar round new item Jan 10
- 1.226 Knight Rider stunt new item Jan 10
- 1.227 Truck in strong wind new item Feb 10 Dec 14
- 1.228 Lucky shots new item Feb 10
- 1.229 A truck falls over onto a car new item Mar 10
- 1.230 Pub trick --- removing a coin from under a mug new item Mar 10
- 1.231 Roller derby whip move new item Apr 10
- 1.232 Pub trick --- transferring a steel ball between beer mats new item May 10
- 1.233 Snake slithering new item Aug 10
- 1.234 Pub trick --- picking up a glass with a straw new item Oct 10
- 1.235 Jumping out of a beach new item Mar 11
- 1.236 Bullet spinning on ice new item Apr11
- 1.237 Clown car physics new item May 11
- 1.238 Stacking of rods to produce a large overhang new item Jun 11
- 1.239 A question of balance new item Jul 11 Aug 11 Sep 11 Oct 11 Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 June 2015
- 1.240 Falling faster than the free-fall acceleration new item Aug 11
- 1.241 Football headers and brain damage new item Dec 11
- 1.242 Pouring tea on a rotating platform new item Jan 12
- 1.243 Clinging new item Feb 12
- 1.244 Blowguns and spitballs new item Mar 12
- 1.245 Ponytail shapes new item Mar 12
- 1.246 Coin through small opening new item Jun 12
- 1.247 Photograph of a rolling bicycle wheel new item July 12
- 1.248 Pub trick --- height versus circumference new item Sep 12
- 1.249 Falling Slinky new item Oct 12
- 1.250 A map of physics new item Dec 12
- 1.251 Pub trick --- toothpick magic and crawling through a business card new item Feb 13
- 1.252 Pub trick --- linking two paperclips without touching them new item Mar 13
- 1.253 Through the windshield new item Mar 13
- 1.254 Climbing stairs, on your head new item Apr 13
- 1.255 Dropping a rock down a deep hole new item May 2013
- 1.256 Pub trick --- hand twist rod inversion new item June 2013
- 1.257 Escalator torques new item June 2013
- 1.258 The RIT stairway illusion new item July 2013
- 1.259 Groucho walking and running new item July 2013
- 1.260 Death by bunk bed new item Aug 2013
- 1.261 Leverage Russian style new item March 2014
- 1.262 Pub trick --- opening a bottle without a bottle opener new item Apr 2014
- 1.263 Ship collisions new item Apr 2014
- 1.264 Pole climbing, standard and novel new item July 2014
- 1.265 Leaping match new item July 2014
- 1.266 Cow tipping new item August 2014
- 1.267 Shooting a bullet into a wood block new item August 2014
- 1.268 Pub trick --- wobbly table new item Sep 2014
- 1.269 Pub trick --- opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew new item Oct 2014
- 1.270 Loop-the-loop by cars, bikes, skateboards, and (!) simply running new item Nov 2014
- 1.271 Pub trick --- getting a spoon into a mug new item Nov 2014
- 1.272 Giant Lego towers, new item Feb 2015
- 1.273 V1 flying bombs flipped by spitfire airplanes new item April 2015
- 1.274 Self-righting of turtles and the toy known as gomboc new item May 2015
- 1.275 Marshawn Lynch running through defenders new item Dec 2015
- 1.276 Human slingshot (intoxicated SHM) new item Dec 2015
- 1.277 Concrete compression strength test new item Feb 2016
- Chapter 1Slipping Between Falling Drops(MOTION)
- Chapter 2Racing On The Ceiling, Swimming Through Syrup(FLUIDS)
- Chapter 3Hiding Under The Covers, Listening For The Monsters(SOUND)
- Chapter 4Striking At The Heat In The Night(THERMAL PROCESS)
- Chapter 5Ducking First A Flash And Then A Roar (ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM)
- Chapter 6Splashing Colors Everywhere, Like A Rainbow(OPTICS)
- Chapter 7Armadillos Dancing Against A Swollen Moon(VISION)
- Physics For...