Why do colliding blocks compute pi?

Why do colliding blocks compute pi?

Assessment

Interactive Video

Physics

11th - 12th Grade

Hard

Created by

Quizizz Content

FREE Resource

The video explores a physics problem involving two sliding blocks in an idealized frictionless world. The larger block's mass is a power of 100 times the smaller block's mass, leading to a surprising result: the number of collisions matches the digits of π. The video explains this phenomenon using phase space and conservation laws, transforming the problem into a geometric one. It uses the inscribed angle theorem to calculate collisions, showing how dynamics can be translated into geometry. The video concludes with a hint at further insights into the problem.

Read more

1 questions

Show all answers

1.

OPEN ENDED QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

What new insight or understanding did you gain from this video?

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF