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demonstrations:1_mechanics:1m_work_and_energy:rolling_up:down_an_inclined_track:start

Rolling Up/down An Inclined Track

Description

Consists of a wooden v-shaped track set on an incline, and two wooden rollers painted light blue; a cylinder and a double-cone.

Purpose

Illustrate that rolling downhill isn't really about the slope of the incline, but instead related to the loss of potential energy. In other words, 'downhill' is the direction that decreases the height of the center of mass.

Apparatus

  • V-shaped track
  • Double-conical roller
  • Cylindrical roller

Setup

The cylinder when placed at the top of the track rolls to the bottom as its center of mass moves toward its point of lowest potential energy. The double cone when placed at the bottom of the track has its center of mass above the track. Therefore the cone moves uphill and as the track widens, the cone's center of mass is lowered until it can no longer move uphill. This happens because the 'effective radius' of the double cone goes down as the space between the sides of the track widens, which is more than enough to cancel the incline of the slope.

Notes

The exact incline of the slope may need to be adjusted a bit to produce the desired effect, particularly if the surface you're showing this on isn't exactly flat.

Demo room information

Location N1
Maker Unknown
Current State Working
demonstrations/1_mechanics/1m_work_and_energy/rolling_up/down_an_inclined_track/start.txt · Last modified: 2020/01/28 19:02 by demoroom