Product Overview
This Hand-Drive Rotator is designed for use with a variety of accessories requiring rotational motion, including a governor, centrifuge, spin dryer, Savart’s wheel, Seebeck's siren, and color disk. The rotator can be used with the shaft in either a horizontal or vertical position, offering flexibility without the need for clamping to a table. Rubber feet and suction cups prevent the apparatus from slipping during use.
The large 240 mm diameter wheel is grooved to accommodate a round neoprene belt, providing reliable, non-slip action even under load. The gear ratio between the large and small wheels is 6:1. The shaft includes a standard chuck with a set screw, allowing it to hold rods up to 10 mm in diameter, which is compatible with most rotator accessories. A threaded steel rod parallel to the shaft can be used to secure stationary parts of certain accessories.
Accessories Included: Governor, Centrifuge, Spin Dryer, Savart’s Wheel
Governor
The Governor demonstrates the principle of speed control used in steam and gasoline engines. It features two metal balls mounted on either side of a support rod, each attached to a slotted collar. When the device is rotated, the outward motion of the balls raises the collar, which then activates other mechanisms. Included with the governor is a model Watt’s regulator, illustrating how increasing centrifugal force operates the governor to regulate steam supply to an engine.
Centrifuge
The Centrifuge demonstrates the practical use of centrifugal force to separate particles from a solution, extract cream from milk, or isolate blood cells from plasma. As the centrifuge spins, suspended particles are quickly separated. The spindle is designed to fit the rotator and comes with four plastic shields and four glass centrifuge tubes. For demonstration, fine, insoluble substances such as cornstarch or chalk powder suspended in water can be used.
Spin Dryer
The Spin Dryer consists of a perforated plastic drum mounted on a support rod, with an absorbent sponge disc that fits inside the drum. As the drum rotates, water droplets are expelled through the perforated walls, while the sponge retains water due to centripetal force. Water collects in the outer stationary container, which can then be drained into a beaker (beaker not included). The sponge can also be weighed before and after to demonstrate water loss.
Savart’s Wheel
Savart’s Wheel is used to demonstrate the relationship between sound frequency and pitch. It features three toothed wheels, each with a 6 cm diameter, mounted on a shaft with a tapered spindle. When the wheels are rotated along their central axis, and a card is held against the teeth, a musical note is emitted, illustrating the connection between rotational speed and sound frequency.
