Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Superball Kabobulation Cannon

Harnessing the power of (near) perfectly elastic collisions.
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I'm sure everyone has seen the "tennis ball on top of a basketball" demonstration in a physics class at some point in his or her life. In theory, the basketball triples the initial velocity of the tennis ball. Physics labs also carry "superball kabobs," which allow superballs to be shot off at around fifteen times the ordinary rebound velocity. These stack about four balls atop each other and amplify the velocity of the topmost ball upon collision.

Using this simple yet brilliant technology, I propose the construction of a vertical rail that will skewer three launching balls, and one ammo ball. The tetra-ball complex sits on a firm platform of considerable ponderance, which is lifted and locked in place a metre above the ground by a firing pin. Directly above the rail, there is situated a flat surface at 47 degrees to the horizontal. This entire contraption is mounted on a turret.

Upon removal of the pin, the platform and multiball complex hurl towards the earth, causing the topmost ball to rebound up the rail at incredible speed. It bounces off the angled surface and into the fray, causing whatever havoc it may.

Deluxe model features automatic loading device and leather bucket seat.

Cuit_au_Four, Feb 27 2006

(?) Ahem http://icarus.uom.ac.mu/sol1.pdf
I am a creative individual indeed. [Cuit_au_Four, Feb 27 2006]

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       Ahem. Shut up and eat this croissant. :)
DesertFox, Feb 28 2006
  

       Properly deployed, this might allow the top ball to exceed the speed of light. Many good things would result. +
bungston, Feb 28 2006
  

       Great stuff. +   

       Now, any volunteers for sizes or masses of object balls and their materials? Will this herald the arrival of Spalding and Slazenger into the arms race?
Jinbish, Feb 28 2006
  

       I was obviously in the wrong physics class.
wagster, Feb 28 2006
  

       I've seen this with a magnet: One large bearing (ball), one small, and the small one shoots off when the two jump up to the magnet.   

       So, make that an electromagnet and you won't need that 45 degree mirror.
neelandan, Mar 01 2006
  

       Space elevator anyone?
RayfordSteele, Mar 02 2006
  

       I suppose you could use the technology in a space elevator if you don't mind the force of 2000 g's.
Cuit_au_Four, Mar 02 2006
  

       Wouldn't it be wiser to, instead of using four massively larger balls, you used maybe thirty slighty larger ones.
jellydoughnut, Mar 03 2006
  
      
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