Brachistochrone Ball Race
The longer-looking curved path can win.
Teaching & key ideas
What you do: Release balls simultaneously from same height to same end height.
What students see: The longer-looking curved path can win.
Why it works: Dropping steeply early builds speed sooner, reducing total travel time.
Question to ask: Why can a longer path be faster?
Lesson flow
Predict → demonstrate → observe → briefly explain → ask: Why can a longer path be faster?