Code Number: 1Q50.21
Demo Title: Bicycle Wheels - Suspended
Condition: Fair
Principle: Conservation of Angular Momentum about Vertical Axis
Area of Study: Mechanics
Equipment:
Bicycle Wheel and Gyroscope with Strings Attached to the Axels.
Procedure:
Some oiling and adjustment of the bicycle axle may be required. Keep loose clothing away from the spinning bicycle wheel. Stop the spinning wheel by touching to the floor.
Placing ropes at two different positions on the handle will give you two different precession rates.
The blue Gyroscope may be used in place of the bicycle wheel when dealing with smaller kids.
References:
- Guard Lietz, Tony Behof, and Robert Horton, "A Double Wheel", TPT, Vol. 43, # 9, Dec. 2005, p. 616.
- Walter Connolly and John F. Koser, "The Suitcase Gyroscope—An Angular Momentum Device", TPT, Vol. 25, #4, Apr. 1987, p. 231.
- Harold A. Daw, "A Large Demonstration Gyroscope", AJP, Vol. 56, #7, July 1988, p. 657.
- H. P. Stabler, "Path or a Rim Point on a Precessing Spinning Wheel", AJP, Vol. 34, #4, Apr. 1966, p. xvii.
- "M-706. Single & Double Bicycle Wheel", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook, 1993.
- G. D. Freier and F. J. Anderson, "Mu-14", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
- "Bike Wheel Gyroscope Part 1", 50 Fun Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You, National Geographic Kids, p. 108.
- Julien Clinton Sprott, "1.16, Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope", Physics Demonstrations, ISBN 0-299-21580-6, p. 45.
- James Cunningham and Norman Herr, "5.3.6. Precession", Hands - On Physics Activities with Real Life Applications.
- Robert Ehrlich, "F.11. Gyroscope", Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations, p. 77 - 78.