#  Angular Momentum 

 



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### Three Dumbbells

\[L | t | ★★★\]  
Lecturer rotates on turntable whilst holding two dumbbells.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/three-dumbbells)\]

### Orbiter

\[M | t | ★★\]  
Ball on string orbits with increasing speed as string is shortened.   
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/orbiter)\]

### Coffee Mug on a String

\[M | t |★★★\]   
Drop your favorite mug and have it saved in the nick of time by an orbiting pen.

\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/coffee-mug-string)\]

### Flyball Governor

\[M | t | —\]  
Rotating balls change speed as radius of rotation is changed.   
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/flyball-governor)\]

### Train on Circular Track

\[M | t | ★\]   
Vector representation of position, velocity, and acceleration.   
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/train-circular-track)\]

### Tail Wags Dog

\[M | t | —\]   
Lecturer tries to swing baseball bat while standing on turntable.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/tail-wags-dog)\]

### 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.   
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/gyroscope)\]

### 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.   
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/suitcase-gyro)\]

### 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