1Q30.10 • Angular Momentum Transfer: Centripetal Force

Location: Cabinet 1

Photos shows the demonstration used at the University of Texas at Austin.

Concept conveyed:

Instructions:

Place the track on the base.
Attach the spring pulley 0 cm mark on the track and the hanger for the gold mass at about the 16 cm mark on the left side of the track.
Put the pulley with clamp on the very end of the track.
Put the gold mass on the hanger for the mass, and attach string between the mass and the spring pulley.
Attach string between the mass and the blue hanger. Add mass to the blue hanger to change rotations.
Spin the track. The rotations should show some oscillations from the blue hanger with larger oscillations happening with the more weight added.

Notes:

To put anything onto the track, line the square nut up with the grooves in the track and slide in.
Use a stable table, and make sure the base is level. Clamp down for best results.
The track scratches very easily, so be careful when tightening each component into place on the track.
Masses for the blue hanger can be found with the 1D30.10 2D Pulley demo (Cabinet 7), or can use the detachable masses from the gold mass.
Be gentle when spinning!

Demo Staff:

When putting the demo away, make sure to use the bags in the box for each part to prevent scratches.
Bags are labeled with what experiment uses each part, as well as what belongs inside.
This is a part of the Complete Rotational System from PASCO.

Last updated on July 31, 2026