1Q50.10 • Rail Twirler
Photo of the Demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin.
Concepts Conveyed:
- Magnetism: Magnets in the twirler stick it to the metal rail and help it stay on the track while moving.
- Angular Momentum: Spinning gives the twirler gyroscopic stability, helping it stay upright and balanced.
- Energy Conversion: Your hand's motion becomes kinetic energy; magnets and coils may convert motion into electricity to power the LEDs.
- Conservation Laws: The toy moves and spins due to conservation of momentum and energy, slowing down gradually from friction.
Instruction/ Notes:
- Place the magnet adhere to the plastic wheel to the wire frame.
- Just a flick of the wrist makes the magnetic wheel magically run around the wire rails without falling off.
- The LED light will automatically lit up when the wheel spins.
Last updated on November 5, 2025