Super Spinners!
Students are challenged to design and build spinners that spin the longest. They build at least two simple spinners to conduct experiments with different mass distributions and shapes. Use this hands-on activity to demonstrate rotational inertia, rotational speed, angular momentum, and velocity.
A super spinner demonstrating rotational inertia.Copyright 1999 Jill Frankel Hauser. Gizmos and Gadgets: Creating Science Contraptions that Work (and Knowing Why). Charlotte, VT: Williamson Publishing.
Engineers understand the concepts associated with circular motion and angular momentum as they design equipment, systems and products with spinning components. Aerospace engineers design satellites to spin as they orbit around the Earth so that they do not tumble out of control. Automotive engineers design car parts to spin in specific ways so that they do not come apart at high speeds. Mechanical engineers design generators, washers, dryers, fans and other machines so that they are balanced as they spin. Even a forward pass in football is more effective and stable with the right spin.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain how mass and radius relate to angular momentum.
- Describe the law of conservation of angular momentum.
- Collect, analyze and interpret data on the rotational speed of an object and correlate the speed to variations in the geometry of the object
- Explain how engineers apply the concepts associated with circular motion and angular momentum to design equipment, systems, and products with spinning components.