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Physics Lecture Demonstration 

MECHANICS

(1Q) - Rotational Dynamics 

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Last Page Update: 07/08/03
 
1Q - Rotational Dynamics
10. Moment of Inertia
20. Rotational Energy
30. Transfer of Angular Momentum
40. Conservation of Angular Momentum
50. Gyros
60. Rotational Stability
Color Code Key:
  • All "Black" Listings are demos currently available.
  • All "Blue" Listings are new demos that are available.
  • All "Red" Listings are new demos that arn't available.
  • All "Green" Listings are broken or out of order.

1Q10 - Moment of Inertia

DCS # Demonstration Abstract/Description
1Q10.10 inertia wands and two students Students twirl equal mass wands, one with the mass at the ends and the other with the mass at the middle.
1Q10.10 inertia wands and two students Give students equal mass wands to twirl, one with the mass at the ends and the other with the mass at the middle.
1Q10.10 inertia wands and two students Two apparently identical tubes, one with a mass concentration in the center, the other with a mass concentration at the ends.
1Q10.11 inertia wands Weights taped to meter sticks are used as low cost and visually obvious alternates to commercial apparatus.
1Q10.12 inertia rotator and two students Students rotate a "T" from a disc mounted on the bottom while holding the device by a sleeve. Weights are mounted at different distances on the cross bar.
1Q10.20 torsion pendulum inertia
1Q10.20 torsion pendulum inertia The period of a torsion pendulum is used to determine moment of inertia. Tinker toys allow one to easily construct objects with the same mass but different moments of inertia. Many variations are presented.
1Q10.20 torsion pendulum inertia Objects are placed on a trifilar supported torsional pendulum.
1Q10.20 torsion pendulum inertia Objects are added symmetrically about the torsional pendulum axis.
1Q10.20 torsion pendulum inertia Use the torsion pendulum to determine the moment of inertia.
1Q10.25 air bearing inertia Determine the ellipsoids of inertia of a rectangular steel bar with the air bearing supported rotating disc.
1Q10.25 air bearing inertia A steel triangle is dropped on an air bearing supported rotating disc.
1Q10.25 air bearing inertia Various objects are placed on an air bearing supported rotating disc.
1Q10.30 ring, disc, and sphere A ring, disc, and sphere of the same diameter are rolled down an incline.
1Q10.30 ring, disc, and sphere A ring, disc, and sphere of the same diameter are rolled down an incline.
1Q10.30 ring, disc, and sphere Rings, discs, and spheres are rolled down an incline.
1Q10.31 rolling bodies on incline
1Q10.31 rolling bodies on incline Rings, discs, spheres, and weighted discs are rolled down an incline.
1Q10.32 ring, disc Disc and ring on the incline plane.
1Q10.35 all discs roll the same
1Q10.35 all discs roll the same A set of discs of different diameters are rolled down an incline. Also use hoops and spheres.
1Q10.37 coffee can lab Rolling an empty coffee can down an incline. A student lab with many tasks.
1Q10.40 racing discs
1Q10.40 racing discs Two discs of identical mass, one weighted in the center and the other weighted at the rim, are rolled down an incline.
1Q10.40 racing discs Two wooden discs of the same mass and diameter are loaded with lead to give different moments of inertia. Roll on an incline.
1Q10.40 racing discs Two equal mass discs are made to race down an incline, one with a lead core and the other with a lead rim. Both are made to roll up a second incline to show they had the same kinetic energy at the bottom.
1Q10.41 moment of inertia spools Aluminum wheels are joined by two brass cylinders that can be placed at different radii to change the moment of inertia.
1Q10.50 racing soups
1Q10.50 racing soups Racing two soups first down an incline and then down and across the floor. Betting is used to make the demonstration more exciting.
1Q10.51 winning ball Use mercury filled rollers for sure winners.
1Q10.55 weary roller
1Q10.55 weary roller Load a roller with fine dry sand or powdered tungsten.
1Q10.56 viscosity A raw egg in a torsion pendulum damps more quickly than a boiled egg due to internal friction. Also spinning eggs - angular momentum.
1Q10.65 moment of inertia of a ball An air spinner for a 2" bronze ball and a method of mapping out the three axes of moment of inertia.
1Q10.66 errant pool balls Directions for making several different types of weird acting pool balls.
1Q10.70 rigid and non-rigid rollers
1Q10.70 rigid and non-rigid rotations Lead rings, the masses of a torsion pendulum, can be either locked or freed to show terms in Steiner's equation.
1Q10.70 rigid and non-rigid rotators Two lead rings are mounted as a torsion pendulum with rotational axes parallel to the pendulum. The period is measured with the rings freed and locked.
1Q10.70 rigid and non-rigid rotations Two masses on a horizontal bar fixed to a vertical shaft are spun by a falling weight. The masses can be locked or freed to rotate in the same plane as the vertical shaft.
1Q10.71 Steiner's theorem An adjustable double dumbbell on a rotating bar arrangement.
1Q10.75 parallel axis wheels The period of a bicycle wheel suspended as a pendulum is measured with the wheel spinning and locked.

1Q20 - Rotational Energy

DCS # Demonstration Abstract/Description
1Q20.10 whirlybird (adj. ang. mom.) A weight on a string wrapped around a wheel drives a radial rod with adjustable weights.
1Q20.10 adjustable angular momentum A weight on a string wrapped around a wheel drives a radial rod with adjustable weights.
1Q20.10 adjustable angular momentum A weight wrapped around a wheel drives a radial bar with adjustable weights.
1Q20.10 adjustable angular momentum Hanging weights from three coaxial pulleys provides different applied torques to a radial bar with movable weights to provide adjustable moment of inertia.
1Q20.10 adjustable amgular momentum Two equal masses are mounted on a radial bar fixed to a horizontal axle with a pulley.
1Q20.10 angular acceleration machine A weight over a pulley turns a bar with adjustable weights. On screen timer and protractor helps measurements.
1Q20.12 adjustable angular momentum Hang various weights from the axle of a large wheel and time the fall.
1Q20.13 adjustable angular momemtum A horizontal bar mounted at its midpoint on a turntable has pegs for mounting weights at various distances, and is accelerated by a string to falling mass.
1Q20.14 adjustable angular momentum Spin the air bearing supported rotatable disc with a mass hanging on a string.
1Q20.15 flywheel and drum with wieght
1Q20.17 adjustable angular momentum A falling weight on a string wrapped around a spindle spins a variety of objects to show Newton's second law for angular motion.
1Q20.20 angular acceleration wheel
1Q20.20 angular acceleration wheel Measure the acceleration of a bike wheel with a mass on a string wrapped around the axle.
1Q20.20 bike wheel angular acceleration Measure the angular acceleration of a bike wheel due to the applied torque of a mass on a string wrapped around the axle.
1Q20.20 bike wheel angular acceleration Use a spring scale to apply a constant torque to a bike wheel and measure the angular acceleration.
1Q20.25 accelerate light and heavy pulleys
1Q20.25 accelerate light and heavy pulleys
1Q20.26 angular acceleration Use strobe photography to record the motion of a large disc accelerated by a mass on a string over a pulley.
1Q20.27 rotating dry ice puck A dropping mass on a string wrapped around a massive dry ice puck gives both linear and angular acceleration.
1Q20.28 rotational dynamics A dry ice puck with strings wrapped around two different radii going to equal masses hanging on opposite end of the table is stationary while a piece of masking tape is placed over one winding. Remove the tape and the puck spins and translates.
1Q20.30 rolling spool
1Q20.30 rolling spool A spool rolled down an incline on its axle and takes off when it reaches the bottom and rolls on its rim.
1Q20.30 rolling spool A large version of the rolling spool (16" dia.) is used as a lab. Construction hints and complete analysis.
1Q20.30 rolling spool A large spool is rolled down an incline on its small axle. When the outer discs reach the table, the thing takes off.
1Q20.30 rolling spool A spools rolls down a narrow incline on its axle. When it reaches the bottom, it rolls on the diameter of the outer discs.
1Q20.30 spool on incline A spool rolls down an incline on its central radius.
1Q20.31 rolling spool Place the rolling spool demonstration on a low friction sheet to show conservation of linear momentum as the sheet moves backward when the roller hits bottom.
1Q20.35 bike wheel on incline
1Q20.35 bike wheel on incline A bike wheel rolls down an incline on its axle with the axle pinned to the wheel or free.
1Q20.35 bike wheel on incline A bike wheel rolls down an incline on its axle. The wheel can be pinned to the axle.
1Q20.41 rolling up an incline A roller is timed as it rolls up an incline under the constant torque produced by a cord wrapped around over a pulley to a hanging mass.
1Q20.42 start a wheel Use a large DC motor and a large wheel to show the angular acceleration of a rotating body with a constant driving torque. Picture. Diagram.
1Q20.44 rolling pendulum A spherical bob can roll on a track of the same arc as its swing when suspended by a cord. Comparison of the motion in the two cases shows the effect of the rotational motion in rolling.
1Q20.46 radius of gyration (Here?) Slide an air cart down an inclined instrumented air track, then add a wood track and roll a ball down the same incline.
1Q20.47 spin a swing Wind up two balls on strings from a common support with a slack connecting string between them. As they unwind, the angular velocity decreases until the connecting string becomes taut, then increases. Ref: AJP 27, 611 (1959)
1Q20.50 faster than "g"
1Q20.50 faster than "g" A ball jumps from the end of a hinged stick into a cup as the stick rotates.
1Q20.50 faster then gravity A ball at the end of a falling stick jumps into a cup.
1Q20.50 falling chimney A hinged incline with a ball on the end jumps into a cup a few inches down the board as the incline drops.
1Q20.50 falling chimney Diagram. Ball on the end of a falling stick jumps into a cup attached near the end of the stick.
1Q20.50 falling chimney A ball on the end of a pivoting stick jumps into a cup. Includes TPT 3(7),323.
1Q20.50 hinged stick and ball A ball at the end of a hinged stick falls into a cup mounted on the stick.
1Q20.51 bowling ball faster than "g"
1Q20.51 bowling ball faster than "g" A bowling ball at the end of ten foot ladder jumps into a five gallon pail.
1Q20.52 faster than "g" - add mass Analysis of adding mass to the plank.
1Q20.52 falling chimney Use of a triangular board to increase R/I for the board. Analysis included.
1Q20.52 falling chimmey A mass can be added to the end of the bar to slow it down causing the ball to miss the cup.
1Q20.53 falling chimney Hinged beam falls with paint brushes at and off the center of mass record the motion of the two points.
1Q20.54 "faster than g" revisited An analysis three cases, one in which the particle catches up with the rod.
1Q20.54 free fall paradox Short derivation of the "faster than g" demonstration.
1Q20.55 pennies on a meter stick
1Q20.55 pennies on a meter stick Line a meter stick with pennies and drop one end with the other hinged. Happens to fast to see well. Use with the video.
1Q20.55 pennies on a meter stick A meter stick is loaded with pennies and held horizontally, then released at one end. Pennies on the first 2/3 stay with the stick.
1Q20.55 penny drop stick A horizontal meter stick, hinged at one end, is loaded with pennies and released.
1Q20.60 falling meter sticks - scaling
1Q20.60 falling meter sticks - scaling Compare the rate of fall of one meter and two meter sticks.

1Q30 - Transfer of Angular Momentum

DCS # Demonstration Abstract/Description
1Q30.10 passing the wheel Pass a bicycle wheel back and forth to a person on a rotating stool.
1Q30.10 passing the wheel A bicycle wheel is passed back and forth to a person on a rotating stool.
1Q30.10 passing the wheel The lecturer on a rotating stool passes a spinning bike wheel back and forth to an assistant while turning it over.
1Q30.15 pass bags o' rice
1Q30.15 pass bags o' rice
1Q30.20 drop bags o' rice
1Q30.20 bags o' rice A person on a rotating stool holds out 10 lb bags of rice and drops them.
1Q30.25 satellite de rotator
1Q30.25 satellite derotator Same a disc 07-09.
1Q30.25 de-spin device Two heavy weights on cables are released from a vertically spinning disc to slow the system by conservation of angular momentum.
1Q30.25 de-spin device A mass flies out on a string satellite de-spin device with derivation of proper dimensions and weights.
1Q30.25 satellite derotator Heavy weights fly off a rotating disc carrying away angular momentum.
1Q30.30 catch the bag on the stool
1Q30.30 catch the bag on the stool Sit on the rotating stool and catch a heavy ball at arms length.
1Q30.30 catch the bag on the stool Throw or catch a bag of lead shot off axis while sitting on a rotating platform.
1Q30.30 catch the ball on the stool Baseballs or billiard balls may be thrown or caught at an arm's length by a demonstrator on a rotating stool.
1Q30.31 catch the ball on the stool Roll a ball down an incline and catch it off axis on the air bearing supported rotating disc.
1Q30.33 shoot ball at a shaft Shoot a steel ball at a catcher on the end of an arm that rotates.
1Q30.34 catch a ball on a rotating bar Roll a ball down an incline and catch it on the end of a modified Welch Centripetal Force Apparatus (No. 930) Similar to AJP 31,91 (1963).
1Q30.40 drop disc on rotating disc A second disc is dropped on an air bearing supported rotating disc. Spark timer recording.
1Q30.50 spinning funnel A funnel filled with sand spins faster as the sand runs out.
1Q30.50 spinning funnel A letter about TPT 22(6),391, "Demonstrating conservation of angular momentum".
1Q30.90 stick-propeller device The stick-propeller device appears to produce angular momentum from nowhere.

1Q40 - Conservation of Angular Momentum

DCS # Demonstration Abstract/Description
1Q40.10 rotating stool and weights Spin on a rotating stool with a dumbell in each hand.
1Q40.10 rotating stool and dumbells A person on a rotating stool moves dumbbells out and in.
1Q40.10 rotating stool and dumbells Instructor stands on a rotating platform with a heavy dumbbell in each hand.
1Q40.10 rotating stool and dumbells Extend and retract your arms while rotating on a stool.
1Q40.10 rotating stool and dumbells Spin on a rotating stool with a dumbbell in each hand.
1Q40.10 rotating stool with weights A person sits on a rotating stool and moves weights in and out.
1Q40.11 big rotating stool and dumbells A cable pulley system moves large masses from 60 to 180 cm.
1Q40.12 rotating platform and dumbells Make a rotating platform out of two disks of 3/4" plywood and a large diameter thrust bearing.
1Q40.13 rotating stool Rotating platform made out of an auto front wheel bearing.
1Q40.15 rotating stool and long bar
1Q40.15 rotating stool and long bar Sit on a rotating stool holding a long bar with masses at the ends. Rotate the bar one way and you turn the other way.
1Q40.15 rotating stool and long bar Sit on the stool and hold a long bar with weights on the ends. Rotate the bar and you will move in the opposite sense.
1Q40.16 rotating stool and bat Stand on a rotating platform and swing a bat.
1Q40.16 rotating stool and bat Stand on a rotating stool and swing a baseball bat.
1Q40.20 squeezatron
1Q40.20 squeezatron A flyball governor can be expanded or contracted by squeezing a handle.
1Q40.20 rotating adjustable balls Plans for a two ball adjustable governor type conservation apparatus.
1Q40.20 squeezatron A flyball governor can be expanded or contracted by a squeeze handle.
1Q40.20 squeezatron Pulling a string decreases the radius of two masses rotating at the ends of a rod.
1Q40.20 squeezatron A mechanical device for showing the pirouette effect.
1Q40.21 dry ice puck rotators Two dry ice puck rotators: a) steel balls separate, b) they come together.
1Q40.23 centrifugal governor
1Q40.23 governors A small governor is spun on a hand crank rotator.
1Q40.23 Watt's regulator Use a model of Watt's regulator.
1Q40.23 govenors The Cenco Watt's governor shown with a valve regulating gear.
1Q40.23 centrifugal governor A model of a governor.
1Q40.25 pulling on the whirligig
1Q40.25 pulling on the whirligig Pull on the bottom ball of the whirligig.
1Q40.25 pulling on the whirlagig Balls are attached to either ends of a string that passes through a hollow tube. Set one ball twirling and pull on the other ball to change the radius.
1Q40.25 pulling on the whirlagig Shorten the string of a rotating ball on a string.
1Q40.26 pulling on the whirlagig A ball on a string rolls on the lecture table. In one case the cord wraps itself around a vertical rod. In the other, to cord is pulled through a hole in the table.
1Q40.30 rotating stool and bicycle wheel Invert a spinning bike wheel while sitting on a rotating stool.
1Q40.30 rotating stool and bicycle wheel A person sits on a rotating stool, spins a bicycle wheel and turns it over and back.
1Q40.30 rotating stool and bicycle wheel Inverting a spinning bicycle wheel while on a rotating stool, passing it back and forth.
1Q40.30 rotating stool and bicycle wheel Spin and turn a bike wheel while on a rotating stool.
1Q40.30 rotating stool and bicycle wheel Invert a spinning bike wheel while sitting on a rotating stool.
1Q40.31 stool, bicycle wheel, and friction Slow down the bike wheel deliberately to emphasize the role of friction in transfer of momentum.
1Q40.32 rotating stool and bicycle wheel Wrap the bicycle wheel with no. 9 iron wire.
1Q40.33 drop the cat Turn yourself around on a rotating stool by variation of moment of inertia. Also, make a model of a cat.
1Q40.34 skiing Go skiing while holding a bike wheel gyro. By conservation of angular momentum, turn yourself with the gyro.
1Q40.34 skiing Stand on a rotating turntable with skies on to show the upper part of the body turning opposite the lower.
1Q40.40 train on a circular track
1Q40.40 train on a circular track A HO gage train runs on a track mounted on a bike rim.
1Q40.40 angular momentum train A circular track on a rotating platform and a train have the same mass. The train and track move in opposite directions.
1Q40.40 angular momentum train A train on a rotating platform.
1Q40.40 train on a circular track A wind up train rides on a track mounted on the rim of a horizontal bicycle wheel.
1Q40.41 angular momentum train - air table The circular track is mounted on a large air table puck.
1Q40.42 frictional transfer of ang. momemtum Diagram. A balanced framework constrains a spinning wheel. As the wheel slows down, the framework begins to rotate.
1Q40.43 coupled windmills Picture. Two angular momentum machines (M-166) are coupled by a spring. The spring is wound and both are released simultaneously to show opposite reactions.
1Q40.44 counter spinning An induction motor is mounted so both the frame and armature can rotate freely. No torque is required to tilt the direction of axis of rotation unless either the frame or armature is constrained.
1Q40.45 wheel and brake
1Q40.45 noncoaxial rotating disks A battery driven turntable rotates noncoaxially on a frictionless turntable.
1Q40.45 wheel and brake A horizontal rotating bicycle wheel is braked to a large frame and the combined assembly rotates slower.
1Q40.50 pocket watch
1Q40.50 pocket watch A small pendulum is suspended from the stem on pocket watch placed on a small watch glass on a stand.
1Q40.50 pocket watch Suspend a pocket watch by its ring from a sharp edge.
1Q40.50 tail wags dog Use a laser to magnify the motion of a pocket watch.
1Q40.52 various demos You read this one.
1Q40.53 various demos A free system of two discs, one attached to a motor shaft and the other to the motor, is powered through slip rings. Show the discs rotate in opposite directions and come to rest at the same time.
1Q40.54 orbital angular momentum Apparatus Drawings Project No.33: A dumbbell pivoting on its center of mass, on a counterwieghted rod rotated about its center of mass, remains oriented in the original direction until friction prevails.
1Q40.55 buzz button Pull on a twisted loop of string threaded through a large button to get the thing to oscillate.
1Q40.55 buzz button A 6" wooden disc supported by a loop of string passing through two holes drilled 1/2" apart. Directions for showing constancy of axes.
1Q40.57 colliding air pucks The linear and angular momentum are recorded with strobed photography. The pucks have an arrow to indicate rotation.
1Q40.59 colliding spinning orbiting pucks One massive dry ice puck contains a motorized windlass that winds up a connecting string, the other has the string wound around it. One orbits, the other spins and when the come together they stop dead.
1Q40.60 sewer pipe pull
1Q40.60 sewer pipe pull Put "o" rings around a section of large PVC pipe to act as tires. Place on a sheet of paper and pull the paper out from under it.
1Q40.60 sewer pipe pull A newspaper is pulled out from under a large sewer pipe with O ring tires. When the paper is all the way out, the pipe stops dead.
1Q40.60 various demos Pull a strip of paper horizontally from under a rubber ball. As soon as the ball is off the strip, it stops dead.
1Q40.63 off-center flywheel A flat plate is free to rotate on a block of dry ice. The plate rotates about its center of mass when the flywheel at one end slows down.
1Q40.65 double flywheel rotator Two flywheels free to rotate about a vertical axis on a bar which is also free to rotate about a vertical axis are coupled in various ways to demonstrate "spin-spin" and "spin-orbit" coupling with and without dissipation.
1Q40.70 marbles and funnel
1Q40.70 marbles and funnel The angular speed of marbles increases as they approach the bottom of a large funnel.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine
1Q40.80 Hero's engine Similar to disc 15-07.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine Plans for a machine shop built Hero's engine.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine A model of Hero's engine.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine A simple Hero's engine made of a tin can.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine Cylindrical boiler pivots on a vertical axis with tangential pressure relief nozzles.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine A suspended round bottom flask with two nozzles.
1Q40.80 Hero's engine The flask rotates on a horizontal axis.
1Q40.81 Hero's engine - sprinkler A lawn sprinkler.
1Q40.81 Hero's engine - sprinkler A gravity head of water is used to drive a Hero's engine device (lawn sprinkler).
1Q40.82 air rotator with deflectors
1Q40.82 air rotator with deflectors Run an air sprinkler, then mount deflectors to reverse the jet.
1Q40.85 the Feynman inverse sprinkler A demonstration showing the inverse sprinkler moves in a direction opposite to that of a normal sprinkler.
1Q40.85 inverse sprinkler - kinematic study An extension of the AJP 57(7) article.
1Q40.85 the sprinkler problem A design for the sprinkler/inverse sprinkler and a lot of analysis.
1Q40.86 Hero's engine Place an air jet Hero's engine in a bell jar and pump out some air.
1Q40.87 inverse sprinkler demonstration An inverse sprinkler made of soda straw in a carboy exhibits no motion.
1Q40.88 inverse sprinkler - no rotation A conservation of angular momentum argument is invoked to show that no rotation will result in an inverse sprinkler.
1Q40.88 inverse sprinkler A letter full of opinions.
1Q40.88 inverse sprinkler letter reply The writer of the previous letter has comments "drawn from thin air", not unlike most of these little blurbs.

 

1Q50 - Gyros

DCS # Demonstration Abstract/Description
1Q50.01 elementary explaination Precession explained using only Newton's laws.
1Q50.01 behavior of a real top Analysis of the behavior of a real top with a round end spinning on a surface with friction.
1Q50.01 analysis An elementary discussion of the gyroscope is presented. It is based on conservation of angular momentum and energy and does not require calculus.
1Q50.01 elementary analysis comment Comment on AJP 28(9),808.
1Q50.01 explaining top nutation The stability of torque-free rotations and top nutation without sophisticated mathematics.
1Q50.01 physical explaination Consider the rotation of two equal masses mounted on a frame of negligible mass. Also note that the mathematical simplification made in the study of rigid-body motion often tend to obscure what is happening.
1Q50.01 elementary analysis One approach to explaining the gyroscope in language familiar to the student.
1Q50.01 physical explaination Precession explained qualitatively without recourse to right-hand rules, torques, etc. A train track displacement demo is presented as an analog.
1Q50.01 physical explaination A simple physical explanation of precession.
1Q50.10 precessing disc Spin a cardboard disc on a pencil inserted in a hole at the center and touch a finger to the rim.
1Q50.10 precessing disc A phonograph record (or aluminum disc) is spun on a nail at the end of a wood dowel. Have the class predict which way the record will turn when touched with a finger.
1Q50.10 cardboard precession Spin a cardboard disc on a pencil inserted in a hole in the center and touch a finger to the rim.
1Q50.10 precessing disc A 6" aluminum disc on a long axial rod is hand spun to show precession due to gravitational torque.
1Q50.10 phonograph record A wood bar spinning in a horizontal plane on a pivot is tapped and the plane of rotation tips.
1Q50.10 phonograph record Spin a cardboard disc on a nail driven into the center into the end of a stick. Place a finger on the disc to cause it to precess.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro Spin a bicycle wheel mounted on a long axle with adjustable counterbalance.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro A small weighted bicycle wheel is mounted at the end of a long axle pivoted in the middle with an adjustable counterweight.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro The counterbalanced bicycle wheel gyro with clip-on vector arrows for the angular momentum and torque vectors.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro Spinning bike wheel mounted on an adjustable counterbalanced axle.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro A bicycle wheel is mounted on a long axle with adjustable counterbalance.
1Q50.20 bicycle gyro Drawings for making a very nice gyro out of a 24" bike wheel.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro Weigh one end of a bike wheel gyro axle while the gyro is hanging vertically, spinning while supported horizontally, and precessing about the scale.
1Q50.20 bicycle wheel gyro A bicycle wheel gyro with a slightly different setup.
1Q50.20 gyro with adjustable weights A small gyro is at the end of a pivoting rod with an adjustable counterweight.
1Q50.21 bike wheel on gimbals
1Q50.21 bicycle wheel gyro A spinning bike wheel with two handles is supported by a loop of string around one of the handles. Counterweights may be applied.
1Q50.22 suspended bike wheel A ball at one end of a bike wheel axle is placed into a socket on a bearing for demonstrating precession and nutation on a large scale.
1Q50.22 bike wheel turnaround Posts from a rotating platform support both ends of the axle of a bike wheel. One post is hinged so the wheel can be supported from one end only as the platform rotates.
1Q50.22 suspended bike wheel A bicycle wheel with handles is supported by loops of string tied to a crossbar that is hung by a single string. Push the ends of the handles horizontally in opposite directions.
1Q50.22 bike wheels on gimbals A bicycle wheel on gimbals has a long axle that can be weighted.
1Q50.23 bike wheel presession
1Q50.23 path of a rim point Photograph a flashing light attached to the rim of a spinning wheel during forced precession.
1Q50.23 bike wheel precession A spinning bicycle wheel is supported by a rope at one end of a long axle.
1Q50.24 walking the wheel
1Q50.24 walking the wheel A spinning bicycle on a short axle dangles from a string held in the hand. Try to apply a torque that will bring the axle to a horizontal position.
1Q50.24 walking the wheel A spinning bike wheel is mounted on one end of an axle and the other end has a loop of string. Try to get the bike wheel in the vertical position by applying a torque to the string.
1Q50.25 double bike wheel gyro
1Q50.25 double bike wheel gyro Two bike wheel are mounted coaxially. Try the standard demos with the wheels rotating in the same direction and in opposite directions.
1Q50.25 double bike wheel gyro Do the standard single bike wheel demos with two coaxial bike wheels counter rotating.
1Q50.25 double bike wheel gyro Two bike wheels are mounted on the same axle. The standard demos are done with the wheels rotating in the same and opposite directions.
1Q50.25 double bike wheel The double bike wheel gyro precesses when both wheels rotate in the same direction. Has a nonstandard mount.
1Q50.26 inverted bike Three demos involving bike wheel demos, one of which is a double wheel device.
1Q50.30 MITAC gyro
1Q50.30 MITAC gyro A commercial motorized gyro on gimbals.
1Q50.30 MITAC gyro Evaluation of the MITAC gyro. Paint the gimbals as suggested by AJP 14,116 (1946).
1Q50.30 MITAC gyro A commercially built motorized gyro on a gimbal includes counterweights.
1Q50.30 motorized gyroscope A motorized gyro in gimbals.
1Q50.31 ride a gyro
1Q50.31 ride a gyro Same as AJP 56(7),657.
1Q50.31 a large gyro Make a gyro out of an auto wheel and tire. This is big enough to sit on.
1Q50.35 gyro in gimbals
1Q50.35 gyro in gimbals Push a cart with a gyro around the room.
1Q50.35 gyro on turntable A gyro set in gimbals is carried around.
1Q50.35 gyroscopic stability Move a gyro mounted on gimbals.
1Q50.40 suitcase gyro
1Q50.40 suitcase gyro Spin up a flywheel hidden in a suitcase and have a student turn around with it.
1Q50.40 suitcase gyro A battery powered motor runs a flywheel in a suitcase.
1Q50.40 suitcase gyro A large gyro is mounted in a suitcase.
1Q50.41 feel of a gyro Hold a heavy gyro outfitted with good handles.
1Q50.42 various gyros pictures of various gyros.
1Q50.43 magnetic gyro Two magnetic gyros.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro A large air support for a bowling ball.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro Shop drawings and construction hints for making a air bearing for a 4" diameter ball.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro Apparatus Drawings Project No.3: Air suspension gyro for a hardened steel ball bearing. Designed for use lab.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyros A bowling ball air gyro spins for a half hour when spun by hand. The uneven weight distribution produces precession. Also shows a 4" steel ball bearing air gyro.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro Directions for making an air bearing for a bowling ball.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro The air bearing gyro. Construction details in appendix, p. 587.
1Q50.45 air-bearing gyro A large air bearing gyro has a long horizontal shaft with arrow heads for visual emphasis.
1Q50.45 air bearing gyro Small mirrors on an air bearing gyro are used to demonstrate instantaneous axis of rotation, angular momentum vector, etc.
1Q50.50 precession with quality gyro A high quality gyroscope with a counterweight is used to show the fundamental precession equation with fair precesion.
1Q50.51 precession A model shows precessing axes.
1Q50.52 instantaneous axis A bicycle wheel is pivoted at the center of mass and has a disc mounted above the wheel in a parallel plane. The instantaneous axis can be seen as the point of no motion on the upper disc.
1Q50.53 precession of the equinoxes A rubber band provides a torque to a gyro framework hanging from a string causing precession.
1Q50.54 precessing earth model A fairly complex gyroscope.
1Q50.56 precessing ball A ball placed on a rotating table precesses about the vertical axis with a period 7/2 of the table.
1Q50.57 Kollergang A device induces precession and change of weight is noted.
1Q50.58 nutations A vertical gimbal mounted shaft has a gyro on the bottom end and a light bulb and lens on the top. Nutations of the gyro are shown by the moving spot of light on the ceiling.
1Q50.59 motorcycle as a gyro The handlebars are twisted (but not moved) in the direction opposite to the turn to lay the machine over.
1Q50.59 tip a bike wheel A bike wheel on a front fork is hand spun and tipped to one side.
1Q50.60 gyrocompass
1Q50.60 gyro on turntable A gyro in a gimbal sits on a rotating table. Remove the degree of freedom about the vertical axis and the gyro will flip as the table is reversed.
1Q50.60 2 degrees of freedom Spin flip on turning a restricted gyroscope.
1Q50.60 gyrocompass A gyroscope in gimbals is deprived of one degree of freedom. A slight change of direction will cause a spin flip.
1Q50.61 gyrocompass Shows the origin of the error of an uncorrected gyrocompass.
1Q50.62 airplane turn indicator Diagram. Model of an airplane turn indicator in which the gyro precesses about the axis of the fuselage.
1Q50.63 gyrocompass A model of a gyrocompass for any latitude on the spinning earth.
1Q50.70 stable gyros
1Q50.70 stable gyros A gyro on a ladder will become stable when spinning.
1Q50.71 stable gyro car A spinning gyro mounted on a two wheel cart rides a stretched wire.
1Q50.71 stable gyro A very clever gyro "rider" on a model bike.
1Q50.71 stable gyro monorail car A monorail car stabilized by a gyro.
1Q50.72 ship stabilizer
1Q50.72 ship stabilizer Model of a ship stabilizer.
1Q50.72 ship stabilizer A large boat model you can sit in with a motor driven gyroscope.
1Q50.72 ship stabilizer A motorized gyro is free to turn on a vertical axis when the ship model is rocked.
1Q50.73 gyro on stilts A top-heavy gyro on stilts teeters about its position of unstable equilibrium.
1Q50.74 trapeze gyros A gyro on a trapeze is stable only when spinning.
1Q50.74 trapeze gyros Gyro on a trapeze shows stability when there are two degrees of freedom.
1Q50.74 trapeze gyros Gyro on a trapeze.
1Q50.75 ganged gyros Ganged gyros are spun in the same or opposite directions.
1Q50.76 gyro damped pendulum Picture. Frictional torque can be applied to the precession axis to damp the motion of the pendulum.
1Q50.80 gyro pendulum A gyroscope is hung from one end of its spin axle by a string and is swung as a pendulum.
1Q50.90 Maxwell's gyro The extended shaft of a gyro supported at its center of mass will trace out complex contours.
1Q50.90 Maxwell's gyro The spindle of a heavy spinning wheel pivoted at its center of gravity will follow an irregularly shaped object.
1Q50.90 walking gyro An apparatus for walking a gyroscope along a cradle.
1Q50.95 air bearing Maxwell's top Plans for an air bearing Maxwell's top resting on a 2" dia ball with matching air bearing cup with tangential air jets to provide torque.
1Q50.99 gyroscope accelerator A six inch wheel from a child's wagon in a 1/4" drill is used to spin up a gyroscope.

1Q60 - Rotational Stability

DCS # Demonstration Abstract/Description
1Q60.10 bicycle wheel top Extend the axle of a weighted bike wheel and terminate with a rubber ball.
1Q60.10 bike wheel top Extend the axle of a weighted bike wheel and terminate with a rubber ball.
1Q60.15 humming top
1Q60.15 humming top The standard toy top that you pump up.
1Q60.15 yo-yo top Description of an antique toy demonstrating various aspects of rigid body rotational motion. Several pictures should make it possible to duplicate the thing.
1Q60.16 old fashioned top An old fashioned top that you throw with a string.
1Q60.18 gyro gun A shell is spun by hand before being fired by a gun.
1Q60.25 spinning coin An analysis of "wobbling", exhibited by common objects (coins, bottles, plates, etc) when they are spun on horizontal, flat surfaces. The apparatus maintains "wobbling" motion of a metal cylinder, which can be observed in slow motion by means of stroboscopic illumination.
1Q60.30 tippe top
1Q60.30 tippe top The tippe top.
1Q60.30 tippe top A tippe top was spun on smoked glass. Photos show the path of the stem until flip and the soot marks on the top.
1Q60.30 tippe top A brief review of the history of the tippe top problem.
1Q60.30 tippe top The tippe top flips when spun.
1Q60.30 tippe top Show that the tippe top spins in the opposite of the expected direction when inverted.
1Q60.30 tippy top The tippe top flips.
1Q60.31 tippe top analysis Physical arguments are presented which support the convention that the influence of sliding friction is the key to the understanding of the top's behavior. A rigorous analysis of the top's mechanics is offered, together with computer-generated solutions of the equations of motion.
1Q60.35 spinning football
1Q60.35 spinning football Spin a football and it raises up on end.
1Q60.35 spinning football Spin a football on its side.
1Q60.35 spinning football Spin a football and it rises onto its pointed end.
1Q60.35 spinning football An iron slug cut in the shape of a football is put on a magnetic stirrer.
1Q60.35 football spin Spin a football on its side and it will rise up on its end.
1Q60.36 spinning L'Eggs Instead of hard and soft boiled eggs, fill L'Eggs with water, paraffin, or air. Instructions and a little analysis are included. On a separate subject, a hint to use an egg instead of a ball in the floating ball demo.
1Q60.36 spinning egg Try the spinning egg demo with eggs boiled for different lengths of time.
1Q60.36 spinning eggs, etc. Positional stability of various shaped objects.
1Q60.37 billiard ball ellipsoid
1Q60.37 billiard ball ellipsoid Same as AJP 44(11),1080.
1Q60.37 billiard ball elipsoid A billiard ball on an air bearing shows the spectacular motion of free rotating rigid and semirigid bodies moving near their inertial singularities. Or, the billiard ball on an air bearing acts goofy when you spin it in certain ways.
1Q60.37 billiard ball ellipsiod A billiard ball weighted with brass rods along orthogonal axes will show spin flip.
1Q60.40 tossing the book
1Q60.40 tossing the book Throw a book or board up in the air spinning it about its three principle axes.
1Q60.40 tossing the book Directions of constructing blocks of inhomogeneous mass distribution for use in demonstrating the intermediate-axis theorem.
1Q60.40 tossing the book, etc A simple method of measuring the moments of inertia about the three axes before tossing the book. Also has a simple straw and paperclip inertia wand.
1Q60.40 tossing the book A board of unequal dimensions is tossed and spins about various axes.
1Q60.40 tossing the book Toss a 8x4x1 block into the air.
1Q60.40 stable and unstable axes of rotation Toss a rectangular board into the air.
1Q60.45 tossing the hammer
1Q60.45 tossing the hammer
1Q60.46 the hammer flip simplified An explanation of the hammer flip using only the concept of centrifugal force in a rotating reference frame.
1Q60.50 spinning lariat, hoop, and disc
1Q60.50 spinning lariet, etc. A rod, hoop, and flexible chain are attached to a hand drill.
1Q60.50 spinning lariet A hand drill held vertically is used to rotate loops of rope or chain.
1Q60.50 spinning lariet A loop of flexible chain is attached to a hand drill.
1Q60.51 spinning rod and hoop
1Q60.51 spinning lariet, hoop, and disc A hoop and disc suspended from the edge are spun with a hand drill until they each stability.
1Q60.51 spinning rod and hoop of wire Spin a hoop and long rod with a drill.
1Q60.52 spinning lariet, bar A bar is hung from one end by a string on a hand drill. When spun, the bar will rise. Also spin a loop of chain.
1Q60.53 spinning box A rectangular box rotated from a chain around any of the three principle axes will rotate about the axis of maximum rotational inertia.
1Q60.54 rotating vertical chain The five stable patterns observed in a vertical rotating chain are used to introduce Bessel's function.
1Q60.56 spinning bifilar pendula A variable speed motor drives a horizontal rod in a horizontal plane with bifilar pendula of different lengths attached.
1Q60.70 orbital stability Identical masses slide out on a horizontally rotating crossarm both attached to the same central hanging mass.
1Q60.71 quadric restoring force A leaf spring provides a quadratic restoring force to dumbbells rotating on a crossarm. Each angular velocity corresponds to only one stable orbit.
1Q60.72 rotational instability Different springs will result in conservation of angular momentum or instability in a spring loaded dumbbell.
1Q60.73 linear restoring force Two dumbbells slide out as a crossarm rotates with a spring providing the restoring force. At the critical angular velocity the orbits are stable at any radius.
1Q60.80 static/dynamic balance
1Q60.80 static/dynamic balance Same as disc 07-15.
1Q60.80 static/dynamic balance A rotating system suspended by springs shows both the difference between static and dynamic balance.
1Q60.81 dynamic tire balancing Analysis of dynamically balanced wheels shows they must also be statically balanced.
1Q60.90 Marion's dumbell A simple apparatus to demonstrate the non-colinearity of the angular velocity vector and the angular momentum vector. Helps students increase their understanding of angular velocity, angular momentum, and the inertial tensor. Theory and construction details.