Lecture Demonstrations Laboratory

The Demonstrations Manual

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Measurement
Motion In One Dimension
Motion In Two Dimensions
Newton's First Law
Newton's Second Law
Newton's Third Law
Statics Of Rigid Bodies
Applications Of Newton's Laws
Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum
Rotational Motion: Rotational Inertia Rods; Rolling Objects and Moments of Inertia; Moment of Inertia Wheel; The Falling Rigid Body; Vector Nature of Angular Momentum and Conservation of the Same; Hero's engine; Precession of a Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope Under Gravitational Force; Suitcase Gyro; Air Gyro; Gyrocompass; Gyroscopes
Properties of Matter

Moment of Inertia Wheel

Purpose:

To demonstrate the effects of different distribution of mass about a fixed axis.

Procedure:

The wheel is equipped with sliding weights that can be moved along the slots by loosening them with a counter-clockwise twist. Place the free weights on a holder and attach this to the string wound around the axis. Allow the weights to turn the wheel and time their descent with the masses on the wheel in both the close and far away positions.

Hints:

Make sure string is securely attached thru hold on axis of wheel.
The moment of Inertia of the wheel alone is .17 kg m^2.
The masses are 1 kg each.
At the inner position, the masses are 7.0 cm from the center.
At the outer position, the masses are 29.5 cm from the center.

Comments:

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Equipment:

Timer
Plexiglass Inertia Wheel
Stand
Weight Holder
Weights