Three Dumbbells
[L | t | ★★★]
Lecturer rotates on turntable whilst holding two dumbbells.
[In-Depth Description]
Orbiter
[M | t | ★★]
Ball on string orbits with increasing speed as string is shortened.
[In-Depth Description]
Coffee Mug on a String
[M | t |★★★]
Drop your favorite mug and have it saved in the nick of time by an orbiting pen.
Flyball Governor
[M | t | —]
Rotating balls change speed as radius of rotation is changed.
[In-Depth Description]
Train on Circular Track
[M | t | ★]
Vector representation of position, velocity, and acceleration.
[In-Depth Description]
Tail Wags Dog
[M | t | —]
Lecturer tries to swing baseball bat while standing on turntable.
[In-Depth Description]
Child's Top
[M | t | —]
A stage prop to be used in discussion of angular momentum.
Maxwell's Top
[S | t | —]
A top whose pivot coincides with its center of gravity so that there are no gravitational torques.
Gyroscope
[S | t | —]
Small gyroscope used primarily as a stage prop in discussion.
[In-Depth Description]
Counter-balanced Gyro
[M | t | —]
Gyro (mounted in gimbal) with movable weight to balance the top or to apply torque to cause precession.
Bicycle Wheel Gyro
[L | t | —]
Same as counter-balanced gyro but physically large.
Angular Momentum Bicycle Wheel
[M/L | t | —]
Hand-held version to be used with turntable for addition/subtraction of angular momentum; can also be suspended by handle from a rope for precession.
Ship Stabilizer Gyro
[M | t | —]
Side to side rocking of a model boat is damped by a gyro.
Suitcase Gyro
[M | t | —]
A motor driven gyro hidden in a suitcase gives surprising results when the suitcase is moved.
[In-Depth Description]
Dueling Gyros
[M | t | —]
Two motor driven gyros turn in the opposite or same direction to add or cancel angular momenta.
Air Gyro
[M | t+ | —]
Air supported ball shows all the salient features of gyroscopic motion.
Contact Us
Mailing Address: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Campus Location: Science Center B-08A | Tel: (617) 495-5824 | Email: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu