Materials List: Slow the Cylinder:
Experimenting with Shock Absorber Springs

Each group needs:

  • 20-ml syringe
  • clear plastic cup (see Figure 3)
  • water, 8 oz (237 ml)
  • regular soda, 8 oz (237 ml)
  • canola oil, 8 oz (237 ml)
  • 2 small springs with different spring constants (stiffness) that are each able to fit in the syringe cylinder
  • stopwatch
  • duct tape
  • pin, to poke a hole in the tape
  • Slowing the Cylinder Worksheet, one per person
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/umn_shock_activity1