https://physlab-wiki.com/ 2026-04-20T18:53:05+00:00 https://physlab-wiki.com/ https://physlab-wiki.com/lib/tpl/UChicago/images/favicon.ico text/html 2021-09-15T11:47:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/adjustable_rotational_inertia?rev=1631720867&do=diff Adjustable Rotational Inertia A long rod attached to a pulley is caused to rotate by a torque due to a mass that is hung from the pulley. The locations of two masses clamped to the rod are adjustable. The mass hung from the pulley is also variable. text/html 2021-09-15T11:48:33+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/bicycle_wheel_and_rotating_stool?rev=1631720913&do=diff Bicycle Wheel and Rotating Stool A spinning bicycle wheel is set spinning and then held while sitting on a rotating stool. Changing the orientation of the spinning bicycle wheel causes the person holding the wheel to rotate. J1 and large demo area between A5 and A6 text/html 2021-09-15T11:49:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/bicycle_wheel_gyroscope?rev=1631720970&do=diff Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope A bicycle wheel turns freely on an axle that is attached to a short rope. Gyroscopic precession is observed when the spinning bicycle wheel is suspended with the axle oriented horizontally. Application of a torque to the spinning wheel will cause the wheel to realign itself to accommodate the requisite change in angular momentum. text/html 2023-09-11T15:29:03+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/centripetal-acceleration-water-tank?rev=1694460543&do=diff Centripetal acceleration water tank A water tank is placed on a rotary mount. When the tank is rotated, one can see that the surface of the water acquires a paraboloid shape as the water appears to be pushed outward. Pasco turntable and rectangular tank are on M1. text/html 2022-07-25T14:14:41+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/eulers_disk?rev=1658772881&do=diff Euler's Disk A simple disk is spun on one of its edges and observed as its motion evolves. M2 Setup Simple, but make sure that you spin the disk on the edge with the larger radius for a smoother and longer demonstration. PIRA DCS 1Q60.25 text/html 2021-09-15T11:58:11+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/faster_than_g?rev=1631721491&do=diff Faster than g A hinged, inclined board with a cup mounted near the unhinged end is propped up with a rod and a ball is set on the board next to the cup. When the rod is quickly removed the ball falls into the cup. M2 set-up details PIRA DCS 1Q20.50 text/html 2022-12-09T14:56:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/hoberman-sphere?rev=1670615809&do=diff Hoberman Sphere A hoberman sphere can be used to demonstrate conservation of angular momentum. The sphere has a pulley attached to it and has a string runs through its center. The string is attached to the bottom link, goes up through the pulley and back down through the bottom link out of the sphere. This allows you to pull the string and make the sphere contract while it is hanging from a string. If we give the sphere some rotational velocity while it's hanging and pull the string so that it … text/html 2022-07-25T14:17:13+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/hoop_and_disk_race?rev=1658773033&do=diff Hoop and Disk Race A hoop and a disk are released simultaneously at the top of a ramp. Several other objects with different moments of inertia are also available. M2, plank near F0 Setup Any object can be used to set the incline of the board. Make sure there is something at the end of the track to stop the objects from falling to the ground, such as a styrofoam board. To ensure same release time, use a meter stick to get hold objects still before quickly removing the stick in the directio… text/html 2021-09-15T12:00:24+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/ladder_slip?rev=1631721624&do=diff Ladder Slip A ladder may slip when climbed depending on the angle of the ladder to the wall. M3 for miniature ladder, full size ladders by 120 door text/html 2021-09-15T12:04:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/rolling_spool?rev=1631721889&do=diff Rolling Spool A large, flanged spool is pulled by a flexible sheet that has been wrapped around the spool's inner cylinder. The spool will roll forward or backward depending on the angle with which the sheet is pulled. M2 set-up details PIRA DCS 1Q20.30 text/html 2023-09-11T15:29:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/tinker_toy_rotator?rev=1694460599&do=diff Tinker Toy Rotator Mom of I, unstable in M3 text/html 2021-11-29T18:33:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/torque_on_a_disk?rev=1638228792&do=diff A rotating disk has two points where a mass can be attached: one near the axis of rotation at the center of the disk, and another at the edge of the disk. When a mass is hung near the center with an angular displacement from equilibrium, it takes a while for the disk to start moving due to the small torque being applied. Hanging the same mass from the edge causes a significantly larger acceleration due to the increase in torque. text/html 2021-09-15T12:06:20+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://physlab-wiki.com/physicsdemos/mechanics/rotational_dynamics/whirligig?rev=1631721980&do=diff Whirligig A ball is attached to a string that passes through a hollow tube. The device may be used to show the effect of changing the radius of an object in orbital motion. M2 set-up details PIRA DCS 1Q40.25