Wood stick with weight on curved wire
belt, two belt hooks

 

Code Number: 1J20.30

Demo Title: Sky Hook

Condition: Good

Principle: Center of Mass

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Wood stick with a weight on a curved wire, Belt center of mass unit, Belt.

Procedure:

This system will appear to balance on the edge of a table or a finger.  The reason is because the brass weight must move upward in any direction for the system to fall off a table or a fingertip.

The same thing will apply with the belt unit when you hang a belt from it.

References:

  • Terrence P. Toepker, "More Belt Hook Mechanics", TPT, Vol. 42, # 2, Feb. 2004, p. 70.
  • Terrence P. Toepker, "A Center of Gravity Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 15, # 4. Apr. 1977, p. 241, reprinted in TPT, Vol. 41, # 9, Dec. 2003, pg. 549.
  • Ray Turner,  "100 Years of Physics and Toys: Balancing Toys",  TPT, Vol. 30, # 9, p. 542, Dec. 1992.
  • Scott Welty and Norbert Zarumba, "The Pendulum and the Apple", TPT, Vol. 21, # 6, Sept. 1983, p. 340.
  • James Watson, Jr., Nancy T. Watson, "Pocketbook Science", TPT, Vol. 20, # 4, Apr. 1982, p. 235.
  • Vincent Buckwash, "Ways to Demonstrate Center of Gravity", TPT, Vol. 14, # 1, January 1976, p. 39.
  • Terrence P. Toepker, " More Center of Gravity", TPT, Vol. 14, # 8, , Nov. 1976, p. 499.
  • Mp- 3, 4: Freier and Anderson,  A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • M- 470:  "Hammer on Hinged Board & Loop",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • M- 33:  Richard Manliffe Sutton, Demonstration Experiments in Physics.
  • Vincent Buckwash, "Ways to Demonstrate Center of Gravity", A Potpourri of Physics Teaching Ideas, Jan 1976, p. 39.
  • Carson I. A. Ritchie, "The Balancing Horse", Making Scientific Toys, p. 92.
  • "Decorative Toys and Boxes Made at Home", The Boy Mechanic Makes Toys, p. 199.
  • Cy Tymoney, "Sneaky Balancer III", Sneakiest Uses for Everyday Things, p. 15 .
  • Brown, "A Gravity Trick", 333 More Science Tricks and Experiments, p. 48- 49.
  • Janice VanCleave, "Over the Edge", 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird & Funny Experiments, p. 95.
1J20.30 - Sky Hook