Rotational Motion Experiments
This set of rotational motion experiments can be performed with the equipment included in the Rotational Motion Kit (ME-1260).
Grade Level: College • High School
Subject: Physics
Activities
01) Rotational Inertia
The purpose of this experiment is to find the rotational inertia of a ring and a disk experimentally and to verify that these values correspond to the calculated theoretical values.
02) Rotational Inertia of a Point Mass
The purpose of this experiment is to find the rotational inertia of a point mass experimentally and to verify that this value corresponds to the calculated theoretical value.
03) Newton’s Second Law for Rotation
Newton's Second Law for rotation: The resulting angular acceleration (α) of an object is directly proportional to the net torque (τ) on that object. The hanging mass applies a torque to the shaft of the Rotary Motion Sensor and the resulting angular acceleration of the rod and brass masses is investigated.
04) Rotational Kinetic Energy
This lab investigates the potential energies for a modified Atwood's Machine, where a disk has been added to the Rotary Motion Sensor pulley.
05) Conservation of Angular Momentum
A non-rotating ring is dropped onto a rotating disk. The angular speed is measured immediately before the drop and after the ring stops sliding on the disk. The measurements are repeated with a non-rotating disk being dropped onto a rotating disk. For each situation, the initial angular momentum is compared to the final angular momentum. Initial and final kinetic energy are also calculated and compared.
06) Conservation of Energy of a Simple Pendulum
The purpose of this experiment is to use measurements of the motion of a simple pendulum to calculate and compare the different types of energy present in the system.
07) Physical Pendulum
A rod oscillates as a physical pendulum. The period is measured directly by the Rotary Motion Sensor, and the value is compared to the theoretical period calculated from the dimensions of the pendulum.
08) Large Amplitude Pendulum
This experiment explores the oscillatory motion of a physical pendulum for both small and large amplitudes. Waveforms are examined for angular displacement, velocity and acceleration, and the dependence of the period of a pendulum on the amplitude of oscillation is investigated.
