PHYSICS STUDY APPLIANCE Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: educational aids. SUBSTANCE: physics study appliance has base, two guides, and two counter-weights in the form of equal-mass and different-color metal balls having equal diameter and equal coefficient of ball-to-guide rolling friction. Each guide has two pipes spaced apart through distance shorter than ball diameter; they are assembled of alternating current-conducting and non-conducting sections. One of guides has section of Brachistochrone function configuration gradually turning into horizontal section; other guide is non-cycloidal configuration that has inclined section gradually turning into horizontal section. Each guide is secured on one end to front edge of base and on other end, to vertical post mounted on rear edge of base. Newly introduced in appliance are counter- weight starting devices incorporating start button, electromagnets mounted in tops of counter-weight guides, and light-emitting devices in the form of incandescent lamps digitally displaying counter-weight movement over guides; lamps are installed on lateral side of base and connected to respective current-conducting sections of guides. EFFECT: enhanced didactic capabilities of appliance. 2 dwg