Statement
2.1.13. A system of three identical balls connected by identical springs is suspended on a thread. The thread is burned out. Find the acceleration of the balls immediately after burning the thread.
Solution
Let's write the equilibrium condition for the two lower balls on the vertical and horizontal axes
where
And for the upper ball
Accordingly, when the thread burns out, the upper ball will be acted upon downwards by a force of
The lower balls will be acted upon in the horizontal direction by the force
Thus, the lower balls will be in zero gravity
NO: Something similar happens when a Slinky falls
I recommend an interesting problem about Slinky IPhO 2019 "Springs and Slinky"
Answer
The acceleration of the upper ball is