College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
1Q10.75 - Parallel Axis Wheels
Place the large wheel at the desired radius on the rotational support arm. Note that the wheel can be mounted so that it does not turn as the support arm is rotating, or by turning it upside down it can be spun on its own axis as the support arm is rotated. Leveling of the apparatus will be required. When the hanging masses are allowed to fall the rotational inertia can be calculated.
- Derek Christie, "Tennis Rackets and the Parallel Axis Theorem", TPT, Vol. 52, # 4, April 2014, p. 208.
- Benjamin Oostra, "Moment of Inertia Without Integrals", TPT, Vol. 44, # 5, May 2006, p. 283.
- Bruce Denardo, "Demonstration of the Parallel-Axis Theorem", TPT, Vol. 36, #1, Jan. 1998, p. 56.
- 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, p. 226, April 1986.
- J. N. Boyd and P. N. Raychowdhury, "Parallel Axis Theorem", TPT, Vol. 23, # 8, Nov. 1985, p. 486.
- Allen L. King, "Simple Viscosimetric Experiment", AJP, Vol. 33, # 10, Oct. 1965, p. 848.
- M- 768, "Electric Motor on Turntable", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
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.