M.14(1) - ROTATING PLATFORM AND DUMBBELLS

The rotating stool consists of a seat that swivels easily, and can be affected by the changes in moment of inertia caused by two 5 lb weights carried by a person, as well as the precession of a gyroscope. A volunteer sits on a rotating stool (or stands on the platform) holding a 5 lb barbell in each hand. One gives the volunteer a small push that would make him turn slowly, while he keeps his arms fully extended to the sides. When he brings his hands towards his chest, his angular velocity increases considerably. If he extends his arms again, he slows down.

M.14(2) - BICYCLE WHEEL GYROSCOPE

A bicycle wheel has a high moment of inertia in comparison with its mass and behaves like a gyroscope, which contributes significantly to the stability of bicycles. Gyroscopic precession can be experienced by holding the spinning wheel while sitting on a platform which is free to rotate.

• The volunteer holds the spinning wheel vertically, and tries to steer himself by tilting the wheel towards a horizontal position. The resulting countertorque will spin him around
• The volunteer holds it horizontally and spins himself, he will rotate in opposite direction to conserve angular momentum

M.14(3) - TIPPE-TOP

The top consists of a hemisphere and a control stem. When it is spun on a flat surface, it spins on its spherical end for only a few seconds and then, turning upside down, spins on its stem. The motion appears to violate the conservation of energy because it seems to be raising its center of mass without outside help, but because it is spinning, sliding friction force appears. This force creates a torque about the center of mass, causing the top to invert.

M.14(4) - GOVERNOR

Two spheres are attached to rods that are hinged at the other extreme to a post and by its middle to a sphere that slides in this same post. The spheres sit opposing each other on the diameter of a circle, for which the radius can be varied - see the figure. Push this post up and with the two spheres forming a large circle (on the horizontal plane) give a small impulse to the spheres. As they rotate around the vertical axis, pull the post down, decreasing the circles diameter. The angular velocities around the axis of rotation increases considerably. If one pushes up the post again it slows down.

M.14(5) - ROTATION OF A NON-HOMOGENOUS SPHERE

A shere with different moments of inertia along each of its principal axes is suspended on an air bearing. When it is made spin about the axis with the intermediate moment of inertia, the ball keeps inverting position (up and down) but the direction of rotation remains the same and momentum is conserved.