check this out

[mr0w1]

Originally Posted by jkswiss

What is up with that gaussian gun?? Seems to be defying a couple of natural laws there... Any whiz here understand why a gentle push of one ball bearing makes another one explode out of there?

I'd say that the magnet is actually pulling on the ball bearing. You tap it to get it within sufficient range of the magnet's force, and then it's drawn towards the magnet with such force and acceleration that it transfers enough energy to the other ball bearings that the one on the end goes flying off...

That's my guess.

[nogoa]

It works like that hanging ball desk toy. If two balls could be rolled then two would be shot off.

[TheWillis]

I believe he was talking about the force change, and I think it does have to do with the magnet pulling the ball much faster than it was originally pushed.

[humblebyday]

Pretty interesting... I thought it was possibly the force of the opposite ends of magnets reacting to the force from the moving bearing, but the magnets are clearly attached to each other... hmm...

[A_Ninja_Racer]

Corn starch tells me to burn things.

[Lumberjack98]

Those were both very interesting.

Thanks for posting.