Rotation and Torque Simulations

Angular vs. Tangential Velocity

Compare angular and tangential velocities and different definitions of what it means to go "fast" around a circle.

Hanging Rod

Analyze static equilibrium of an extended object where both forces in two dimension and torques need to be balanced.

Rotational Dynamics

Apply torques to disk and observe angular acceleration in real time. Experiment with different mass distributions and force placement and direction.

Spinning Cylinders

Practice using Rotational Newton's Second Law to calculate the max angular speed and total angular displacement for a pair of stuck cylinders accelerated with a string and slowed by friction.

Activity with Solutions

Rolling Up and Down

Analyze forces and energy for different round objects rolling up and down an incline.

Rolling Up and Down Compare

Directly compare multiple round objects simultaneously rolling up and down an incline.

Cylinder Drop

Drop a cylinder onto another cylinder. Martin Kirby and Tom Walsh both have great versions of this too!

Puck Hits Rod

Observe angular momentum, linear momentum and energy transfer as a puck collides with a free rod. Analyze how different collision points affect rotation.

The Diver

Explore how a diver conserves angular momentum by changing body shape mid-air. This slow motion video of a diver may provide some inspiration.