1Q60.36 - Spinning Eggs

Code Number:
1Q60.36
Demo Title:
Spinning Eggs
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Torque & Stable Axis
Area of Study:
Mechanics

Disclaimer

Equipment:
Paraffin and water filled plastic eggs.
Procedure:

The green egg is the paraffin filled one.  The yellow and pink eggs have water in them of different amounts.

When spun the paraffin filled egg will spin very well and may even turn so that it spins on its end.  The water filled egg will not spin easily.  Also, if you spin the water filled egg rapidly, and then stop it and quickly release it, it will start to spin again because the water had not stopped rotating.

Spin the egg so that it spins in an upright orientation.  Then pick up the plate and by tilting and rotating the plate you can keep the egg spinning indefinitely.

References:
  • Kenneth Brecher and Rod Cross, "Physics of the PhiTOP®", TPT, Vol. 57, #2, Feb. 2019, p. 74.
  • Rod Cross, "Surprising Behavior of Spinning Tops and Eggs on an Inclined Plane", TPT, Vol. 54, #1, Jan. 2016, p. 28.
  • Martin Gardner, "Rotating Egg", TPT, Vol. 32, #3, Mar. 1994, p. 189.
  • H. Richard Crane, "On Electric Shocks and Spinning Eggs", TPT, Vol. 27, #4, Apr. 1989, p. 300.
  • D. Rae Carpenter, Jr., "L'Eggs Demonstrations", TPT, Vol. 15, #3, Mar. 1977, p. 188.
  • Jerry D. Wilson, "A Simple Demonstration for Physics and Physical Science", TPT, Vol. 9, #5, May 1971, p. 262.
  • Ken Sasaki, "Spinning Eggs - Which End Will Rise?", AJP, Vol. 72, #6, June 2004, p. 775.
  • Gustavo Gutierrez, Carlos Fehr, Andrea Calzadilla, and Douglas Figueroa, "Fluid Flow Up the Wall of a Spinning Egg", AJP, Vol. 66, #5, May 1998, p. 442.
  • William G. Harter, Chong C. Kim, "Singular Motions of Asymmetric Rotators", AJP, Vol. 44, #11, Nov. 1976, p. 1080.
  • M-646, "Raw vs. Hard-Boiled Egg", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Martin Gardner, "Rotating Egg", Science Tricks, p. 40.
  • Martin Gardner, "The Egg and I-Nertia", Entertaining Science Experiments with Everyday Objects, p. 126.
  • Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling, "A Raw Deal", Bet You Can't!, p. 41.
  • Janice VanCleave, "78, Spinning Eggs", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 119.
  • Arthur L. Lutz, "Spinning Eggs", American Scientist, Volume 71, November-December 1983, p. 572.
  • "The Spinning Egg", The Boy Magician, ISBN 978-1-58816-754-5, p. 77.
  • Jearl Walker, "2.28, Water Climbing a Spinning Egg", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 94.
  • Jearl Walker, "1.107, Spinning Eggs", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 53.
  • Tom Senior, "Spinning Tops......Eggs!".
  • Tik L. Liem, "Stand A Raw Egg On Its Head", Invitations to Science Inquiry - Supplement to 1st and 2nd Ed. p. 107.
  • Julius Sumner Miller, Q31 & A31, Millergrams I – Some Enchanting Questions for Enquiring Minds, p. 29 & 87.
Stupid Egg Tricks
PDF icon Stupid Egg Tricks PDF

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.