Product Overview
Students can experience the forces involved when conservation of angular momentum, centrifugal force, and gyroscopic precession are demonstrated using this platform. It also serves as an excellent support for demonstrations where rotation of the apparatus is desirable. Constructed from two MDF discs 40cm diameter with six anti-slip patches for safe use and a ball race bearing in between. The platform can support balanced loads up to 100 kg and is most effectively used to demonstrate conservation of angular momentum. Weight: 5 kg.
Important: Stand on both feet, with feet on either side of center. For smooth operation, the lubricant in the bearing must be at room temperature. Always use caution when standing on the platform.
This rotating platform comes with the Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope and Liquid Accelerometer accessories.
The Gyroscope is a durably constructed molded plastic 50 cm diameter bicycle wheel, turning easily on ball bearings, with handle at each end of the axle and heavy, inner-tube rubber tire on the rim. Sufficient speed to show the various effects can be obtained by simply giving the wheel a spin with one hand.
Many interesting and surprising effects are possible. When the axis of the spinning wheel is horizontal it may be supported at one end without falling. When held by the handles, attempts to turn the wheel in one direction result in its turning in another. When one walks rapidly with the plane of the wheel vertical, suddenly turning a corner produces an unexpected effect. With the aid of a freely rotating platform one can cause himself to rotate in either direction without pushing against another object.
A Liquid Accelerometer is a thin, transparent, hollow plastic cell clamped to a stable wooden base. When partially filled with a colored water and placed on a rotating platform, dynamics car, or similar device, it will show acceleration. The surface of the liquid is horizontal when the cell is stationary or moving with uniform velocity. It changes from the horizontal when the cell is accelerated or decelerated. May be used with or without the wooden base. Comes with a length of hook-and-loop fastener tape for mounting and adhering the wooden base on the platform.
