person holding tissue paper roll on a stand

Code Number: 1F20.14

Demo Title: Inertia of Rest - Tissue Paper Roll

Condition: Good

Principle: Inertia of Mass

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment:

Tissue Paper Roll, Support Stand.

Procedure:

Place the tissue paper roll on the support stand so that it rolls freely. A gentle accelerating pull will unroll the tissue without breaking. The roll may even continue unrolling for several seconds after you have stopped pulling.

A quick jerk on the roll will do nothing but break the tissue without moving (unrolling) the roll.

References:

T.R. Sandin, "The Jerk", TPT, Vol. 28, # 1, p. 36, January 1990.
M- 242, "Pull Toilet Roll - Jerk Cloth", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
Jearl Walker, "1.93, Tearing Toilet Paper", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 46.

1F20.14 - Inertia of Rest - Tissue Paper Rolls

Disclaimer

These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.