Concepts

Conservation of angular momentum

Overview

A person at rest is standing on a low-friction platform or chair and holding a spinning wheel. If the person tilts the wheel, she or he will start rotating according to the law of conservation of angular momentum.

Details

Equipment

• [1] Wheel
• [1] Wheel spinner
• [1] Low-friction platform, chair, or stool
• [1] Extension cord

Classroom Assembly

1. Plug in the wheel spinner.
2. Place the low-friction platform, chair, or stool in a clear spot.
3. Level the chair, if applicable.
   

Important Notes

• Make sure the person demoing the wheel won't hit anything while rotating and has room to stumble off the platform if it is used.

Script

1. Get a volunteer onto the low-friction apparatus.
2. Give her or him to hold the wheel with arms straight out.
3. Spin up the wheel using the spinner. This could take up to 10 s.
   
4. Ask the volunteer to tilt the wheel. The volunteer should be rotating as a result. The most dramatic results occur when the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the ground, and the wheel flips over 180 degrees.

Additional Resources