1J40.25 Torque Wheel

Weights can be hung from many points on a vertical disc pivoted at the center.

A lightweight plastic wheel is set face-on to the camera. The wheel is free to spin about its center. Four thin strips of metal divide the wheel visually into quarters. Each strip has several holes, through which small hooks can be slipped. Bright strings hang from several hooks. Hooked masses hang from each string. In this photo, the masses and distances are set such that the four quarter strips resemble an off-kilter letter X (angled with respect to the horizontal and vertical).

Move location of hook to observe different equilibrium positions.

A lightweight plastic wheel is set face-on to the camera. The wheel is free to spin about its center. Four thin strips of metal divide the wheel visually into quarters. Each strip has several holes, through which small hooks can be slipped. Bright strings hang from several hooks. Hooked masses hang from each string. In this photo, the masses and positions are set such that the four metal strips resemble a plus sign (neatly horizontal and vertical intersecting lines).

Move location of hook to observe different equilibrium positions.

 

Location: wheel/hooks C1-4, weights FG-7, rod BC-3, table clamp FG-8, string(end of D)