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 (PDF), one per person