Pasco rotational system
Pasco rotational system
Pasco rotational system

Code Number: 1Q20.20

Demo Title: Moments of Inertia - Angular Acceleration Wheel

Condition: Good

Principle: Moment of Inertia

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: Pasco rotational system, disk and ring, hanging masses, leveler, PASCO or Vernier rotary motion sensor, smaller rotational system.

Procedure:

Place the disk on the shaft of the rotational support.  As the masses are allowed to fall the rotational inertia of the disk can be calculated.  The ring can be added to the top of the disk which adds more mass and therefore changes the value of the rotational inertia. 

The smaller apparatus is designed to fit on a PASCO or Vernier rotary motion sensor and then the data is collected with the appropriate interface.  

For a larger demonstration use the Cenco Apparatus set up as in Picture 3.   A stop watch or a photogate may be used to collect the data.  The disk and the ring in this apparatus have approximately the same mass ( about 4.7 kg ).    

References:

  • J. Bierman, D. Buckley, J. Kemper, A. Greer, "A Rotational Dynamics Laboratory Upgrade", TPT, Vol. 59, #4, April 2021, p. 250.
  • Asif Shakur, Taylor Sinatra, "Angular Momentum", TPT, Vol. 51, # 9, Dec. 2013, p. 564.
  • Juan F. Carrau, et al., "The Anharmonic Rotating Wheel", TPT, Vol. 43, # 6, p. 349, Sept. 2005.
  • Louie A. Galloway, III, "Angular Acceleration Measurements with the PASCO ME-9279", TPT, Vol. 30, # 3, Mar. 1992, p. 182.
  • Fred Otto, "Unlocking the Confusion World of Rotation", TPT, Vol. 26, # 6, Sept. 1988, p. 382.
  • Eric R. Dietz, "One Good Turn: Emphasizing the Importance of the Origin for the Discussion of Angular Momentum", TPT, Vol. 24, # 4, Apr. 1986, p. 226.
  • John G. McCaslin, "A Different Moment of Inertia Apparatus", TPT, Vol. 22, # 1, Jan. 1984, p. 54.
  • Alfredo Lisboa, Francisco J. Pena, "Teaching Labs for Blind Students: Equipment to Measure the Inertia of Simple Objects", AJP, Vol. 92, #11, Nov. 2024, p. 889.
  • Allen L. King, "Simple Viscosimetric Experiment", AJP, Vol. 33, # 10, Oct. 1965, p. 848.
  • Hans Weltin, "Slow-Motion Moment of Inertia Apparatus", AJP, Vol. 31, #8, Aug. 1963, p. 586.