Physics Can Be Fun!

You remember this scene from every home invasion movie ever made. Paint cans on ropes, swinging down the stairs like medieval flails of justice. It’s a classic for a reason!

Climbing up to the second floor, you carefully tie the paint cans to rope and position them at the perfect height. The physics has to be just right – too high and they’ll miss, too low and they won’t build up enough momentum.

After some trial runs with a pillow (safety first!), you’ve got the trajectory perfect. Anyone running up these stairs is going to get a face full of paint can, courtesy of Sir Isaac Newton.

As you’re putting the finishing touches on your masterpiece, you hear car doors slamming outside. Showtime!