Lab 6: Angular Momentum and Motion Diagrams



Angular Momentum

  1. Do the following experiments. (Each person in your group should do at least one of these. If no other groups are waiting for the rotating platform, everyone should try each.)
    1. Stand on the ground. Spin of the bicycle wheel and hold it horizontally. Then get on the platform. Turn the bicycle wheel upside down.
    2. Stand on the platform and hold the wheel. (The wheel shouldn't be spinning yet.) Then, hold the wheel horizontally and give it a spin.
    3. Hold the two heavy weights and stand on the platform. Have someone give you a gentle spin. Move the weights in and out.
    4. Stand on the platform and hold something heavy and unbreakable.
      • Throw the heavy thing in such a manner that you end up rotating after the throw.
      • Throw the heavy thing equally hard, but now throw it so that you don't rotate after the throw.
  2. Explain all of these phenomena using conservation of angular momentum.


Motion Diagrams

  1. Ticker timer:
    1. Make a motion diagram for something falling using the ticker timer.
    2. Draw the velocity and acceleration arrows. Do this for around 5 dots.
    3. Then make a plot of the position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time. (Use a different set of axes for each plot.)

  2. Do the velocity handout.

  3. A bicycle starts at rest and accelerates at 2 m/s^2 for 5 seconds. It then coasts (at constant velocity) for another 5 seconds. The bike then stops suddenly. Make a careful plot of the bicycle's position, velocity, and acceleration vs. time.


[Dave] [Physics I] [COA]

Web page maintained by dave@hornacek.coa.edu.