Elevation
While standing in an elevator does not exactly qualify as an environment condusive to scientific study, I did find out something interesting in one of my many trips up and down one particular elevator in our science buildings. Regardless, this little observation can be applied to any elevator you ever ride in, and I recommend it to stave off violent cases of Elevator Boredom (EB). See, everyone feels the acceleration and deceleration of an elevator moving in a shaft, but all one really senses is a slight increase in pressure on the bottom of one’s shoes. So, when you get the chance, give this a try.
Take a pen or pencil in your hand, and hold it out, pointing the end at an elevator button. Note that while this ‘experiment’ will work with your hand, a loose object at the end of your arm enhances the effect. When the elevator starts upwards, you’ll notice the pen or pencil dip down, and stay there, as the elevator accelerates (remember to hold out your arm loosely, hulk). When the elevator ceases acceleration and moves at a constant rate, your writing instrument returns to pointing at the button. Finally, when the elevator slows, watch as your magic wand drifts up above the button, and then return when the elevator stops. I’ve found some elevator accelerate harder than others, and some are so rickety that the experiment is pretty inconclusive about what’s going where.
Oh, and think up a good excuse for pointing at elevator buttons.