Motion of the Center of Mass: Motion in Two Dimensions
Earth Moon System
PIRA Class: 1D40.35
Motion of the Center of Mass: Motion in Two Dimensions
Earth Moon System
PIRA Class: 1D40.35
Purpose
To observe how the center of mass varies due to the
distribution of the mass of any given system.
Description
A rod, with different size wooden balls at each end, is
balance not at the center of the rod - rather closer to the end of the larger of the two
wooden balls. Balance the large inertia rod on extended finger at the system's center of
mass
VARIATION: Observe the parabolic flight of the small inertia
rod without and then with strobe light (students will initially interpret the flight of
the rod as a random motion)
Equipment
Inertia Rods, sm or lg
Optional: Strobelight