The idle musings of a former military man, former computer geek, medically retired pastor and now full-time writer. Contents guaranteed to offend the politically correct and anal-retentive from time to time. My approach to life is that it should be taken with a large helping of laughter, and sufficient firepower to keep it tamed!
Thanks to a link at Dark Roasted Blend, I came across this fascinating experiment with a bead chain. The BBC gets together with Steve Mould to discuss the science behind “self siphoning beads”, also called “Newton’s beads“. The discussion begins at about 1m. 34s. into the video.
I’d never heard of this before. Fascinating!
Peter
It would be interesting to see how big of an arch one could achieve from, say…the top of a building.
Anchor chain (or ANY chain) will do the same thing… Flexibility is the key also.
I've seen that phenomenon while pulling a chain from the back of a pickup. Before I could react, the end whip out and hit me in the leg.
It hurt, even if it was amazing.
Old NFO got it – I've seen this happen with really heavy anchor chain on an old schooner I crewed on. It would beat the hell out of the chute and then be all over the foredeck until you put a stopper on it.