  When a falling chain strikes a surface, it can accelerate downwards faster
than free-fall. This counterintuitive effect occurs when a tension is created
in the chain above where it strikes the surface. The size of this tension, and
how it is produced, depend on the type of chain used. For a chain made of rods
that are slightly tilted from horizontal, the impact-induced tension is readily
observable. Here are reported experimental observations on such a falling chain
for two different situations: when the chain strikes an inclined surface, and
when the chain's mass density decreases with height. It is found that both of
these arrangements can increase the downward acceleration. To quantitatively
describe these observations a theoretical model is developed. The model
successfully predicts the chain's position and velocity, even when the top end
approaches the surface, without any free parameters. The model also predicts
that uniform rods are practically the best for producing large tensions.
