Falling Bodies Apparatus

This apparatus demonstrates the independence of horizontal and vertical velocities. It comprises a polished wooden block 200 mm long, which is pivoted an L-section metal launching bar 180 mm long. The bar is spring loaded and provided with a trigger catch. A small hole near each end of the bar serves to locate a 18 mm diameter steel ball. As and when the catch is released one ball drops vertically while the other is projected horizontally. The fact that the vertical velocities of both balls are the same at any instant, despite the fact that one has a large horizontal component, is shown by the fact that both hit the floor at the same instant.