DISPROVED BY:ELAINE KOONTZ

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

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

CalculationsEstimated distance from car window to

track switcher: d = 22.74 ft/ 6.9 mAverage time of bobble head to track

switcher: t = 1.65 secondsAverage/ estimated velocity of bobble

head:d = vt

6.9 = v(1.65)v= 4.18m/s

22.74 feet/ 6.9 meters

9 inches 12 inches9 inches x 13 ties + 12 inches x 13 gaps

CalculationsConservation of Energy Equation:

PEe + KEe = PEf + KEf

½ kx2 = ½ mv2

kx2 = mv2

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

CalculationsCompressed distance of spring (x):

x = 6 inches – 3 inches = 3 in./ .08 mActual velocity of bobble head:

kx2 = mv2

446.5(.08)2 = .34(v)2

2.86 = .34(v)2

√8.41 = (v)2

v = 2.9 m/s

6 inches

3 inchesx = 6 inches – 3 inches = 3 inch compression

m = 12 ounces

CalculationsActual distance bobble head would

launch:d = 2.9 m/s (1.65 sec.)

d = 4.8 metersDifference between actual and estimated:

estimated – actual = difference6.9 – 4.8 = 2.1 meters/ 6.9 feet

15.75 feet/ 4.8 meters

22.74 feet/ 6.9 meters

22.74 feet/ 6.9 meters

12 ounces

4.18 meters per second2.9 meters per second

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

ConclusionIf 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.