1Q20.10 Adjustable Angular Momentum

1Q20.10 Adjustable Angular Momentum

Locking the weights close to the pulley provides a low moment of inertia which can be quickly accelerated by the mass. Locking them at the ends of the rod provides a higher moment of inertia which takes longer to accelerate.

This adjustable angular momentum device consists of a long rod that pivots about the center of its length. A pulley is fixed to this pivot point. The string of a hanging mass is wound around the pulley. The spinning pulley will, in turn, spin the long rod, which is set so that it spins face-on to the camera. At each end of the long rod is a mass. Each mass can be set at any distance along the rod, or removed entirely.

 

Location: Wall A