Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Spinning Cylinder
Explore the motion of a cylinder that spins around its axis at the same time as it rotates around a line that is perpendicular to this axis.
Center of Science and Industry
Cosi Columbus: Bottle "Tops"
Learn about rotation and balance in this hands-on science experiment. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of how wobbling affects the "spin time" of an object due to it being unbalanced.
University of Guelph
University of Guelph: Physics Tutorials: What Is Torque?
This site provides an introductory look at torque, the measure of how much a force acting on an object causes that object to rotate. Provides a definition of torque, illustrations, and also a formula to define torque.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Yo Yo
[Free Registration/Login Required] Understand the dynamics of rotating objects in the context of a spinning yo-yo using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:29]
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: The Soup Roll
A lab activity written for grade 5. Students roll various cans down inclined planes and compare the times required to reach the bottom. Results are related to rotational inertia.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Spinning Blackboard
Explore the effects of drawing in a straight line within a rotating frame of reference. This activity requires a turntable. If this is unavailable, a cake turntable with a glued-on center post might work as well.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Force Normal on Spinning Space Station
Students must calculate the number of rotations per hour required to create a certain force normal on a spinning space station.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Preschool Races
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the relationship between rotational and translational kinetic energy, and how each are exchanged when objects roll down inclined ramps using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Angular Momentum and Angular Impulse Review
Reference material that reviews how objects rotate and can have linear momentum and angular momentum. Also, learn how the angular momentum of an object can change when torque is applied to an object over time.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Circular & Satellite Motion: Uniform Circular Motion
Manipulate variables while exploring principles and relationships related to moving in a circle at a constant speed. Students change the radius of the circle, the speed of the object, and the mass of the object and investigate the effect...
Education Place
Houghton Mifflin: Eduplace: Science Library Adventures: Wheel Away!
Learn more about the motion of objects through this resource. This site features a teacher's guide and activity sheet.
Other
Institute of Physics: Experimental Test of F=mv Squared/r
In this class practical students are challenged to measure the variables involved in circular motion, to find out whether the formula for centripetal acceleration, F + mv squared/R, is reasonable.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Lab Activity, Rotational Inertia
A lab activity in which students observe the rolling of objects along an inclined plane. The the rotational inertia of the objects are compared based upon their acceleration along the incline. Directions and assessment ideas are given.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Lab Activity: Tops
The Illinois Institute of Technology provides a lab activity on precession and spinning tops. Designed for primary grades, but easily adapted for any level. Includes directions and assessment ideas.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Classic Circular Force Lab
This lab is designed to examine the relationships between the force, mass, and radius of an object moving in a circular path and the velocity it must maintain to stay in that circular path. This lab is an idealized version of the string...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Gyroscope
Description of a museum exhibit in which the forces exerted by two gyroscope wheels are analyzed. Excellent demonstration idea.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Interactive Physics for High School
This digital textbook covers core physics concepts and includes interactive features, real world examples, videos, and study guides.
Other
Precession of a Gyroscope and of the Earth's Axis
Describes and calculates the precession of a gyroscope and also discusses the precession of the Earth's axis. Includes several pictures, diagrams, formulas, and details.
University of Maryland
Thinking Problems in Oscillations and Waves: Pendulum
A series of thought-intensive, multichoice questions concerning pendulums and provided for by the University of Maryland. A downloadable software program on pendulums is also included.
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Build a Cam Mechanism
Create a simple machine that transfers a rotational motion into linear vertical motion with this challenge. The site gives more details on the challenge as well as tips and place to document your design process. Teachers can find a...
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Build a Crank Mechanism
In this challenge, students will transfer rotational motion into linear motion by building a simple machine. The site also includes tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Physics: Angular Momentum and Its Conservation
From a chapter on Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum in a Physics textbook. This section of the chapter discusses the similarities between angular and linear momentum, how torque and angular momentum are related, and the application...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Just Plane Simple
This instructional activity introduces students to three of the six simple machines used by many engineers. These machines include the inclined plane, the wedge and the screw. In general, engineers use the inclined plane to lift heavy...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Gyroscopic Effects: Vector Aspects of Angular Momentum
From a chapter on Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum in a Physics textbook. This section of the chapter explains how to use the right-hand rule to determine direction for angular velocity, momentum, and torque. Also discusses the...