1. DISPROVED BY: ELAINE KOONTZ

2. Video Explanation The Baudelaire’s are sitting in a car on the railroad tracks Their goal is to create a device to reach and switch the tracks They use a bobble head, conical spring, and car seat material The device springs the bobble head around the switcher and, with enough force, switches the tracks

3. Physics Explanation Estimate distance for bobble head to travel Use Conservation of Energy formula to find velocity of spring launching bobble head Plug in velocity to find actual distance for bobble head to travel Reveal that the bobble head can not travel the distance with that mass and velocity

5. Calculations Estimated distance from car window to track switcher: d = 22.74 ft/ 6.9 m Average time of bobble head to track switcher: t = 1.65 seconds Average/ estimated velocity of bobble head: d = vt 6.9 = v(1.65) v= 4.18m/s

6. 22.74 feet/ 6.9 meters 9 inches12 inches 9 inches x 13 ties + 12 inches x 13 gaps

7. Calculations Conservation of Energy Equation: PE e + KE e = PE f + KE f ½ kx 2 = ½ mv 2 kx 2 = mv 2 Constant of spring (k): k = 25 lbs./in(1in./.254m)(.4536N) k = 446.5 N/m Mass of bobble head: m = 12 oz./.34 kg

8. Calculations Compressed distance of spring (x): x = 6 inches – 3 inches = 3 in./.08 m Actual velocity of bobble head: kx 2 = mv 2 446.5(.08) 2 =.34(v) 2 2.86 =.34(v) 2 √8.41 = (v) 2 v = 2.9 m/s

9. 6 inches 3 inches x = 6 inches – 3 inches = 3 inch compression m = 12 ounces

10. Calculations Actual distance bobble head would launch: d = 2.9 m/s (1.65 sec.) d = 4.8 meters Difference between actual and estimated: estimated – actual = difference 6.9 – 4.8 = 2.1 meters/ 6.9 feet

11. 15.75 feet/ 4.8 meters 22.74 feet/ 6.9 meters 12 ounces 4.18 meters per second2.9 meters per second

12. References Railroad Ties: www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazine/69.html Spring: www.springteam.com/design.htm Movie: “A Series of Unfortunate Events” Paramount Pictures 2004 Pounds to Force: Physics book, page 958

13. Conclusion If the 12 ounce bobble head were to be launched 6.9 meters, the head would have to be traveling at 4.18 meters per second. However, the head is only traveling at the rate of 2.9 meters per second. With a time of 1.65 seconds, the bobble head would reach 4.8 meters. Clearly, the bobble head would not reach the track switcher, subsequently disproving the movie.