Breadcrumb
1Q60.38 - Spinning Double Spheres
Code Number: 1Q60.38
Demo Title: Spinning Double Spheres
Procedure:
Place the pair of magnetic spheres on the plate. Give them a spin by hand and then use the compressed air can to spin them up to very high revolutions by directing the air to a tangent to the spinning spheres. When the revolutions become high enough, you should see one end of the sphere pair raise up off the plate.
References:
- David P. Jackson, David Mertens, Brett J. Pearson, "Hurricane Balls: A Rigid-body-Motion Project for Undergraduates", AJP, Vol. 83, #11, Nov. 2015, p. 959.
- David Jackson, "The Spinning Double Sphere", Physics Today, Vol. 69, #2, Feb. 2016, p. 72.
Video and Editing Credit: Jonathan M. Sullivan-Wood.