PURPOSE: To illustrate the three principal axes of a thin aluminum plate.
DESCRIPTION: An aluminum plate is used as a pendulum which can oscillate about either of the three principal axes. The moments of inertia are: I(x)=mb^2/3, I(y)=ma^2/3, and I(z)=I(x)+I(y)=m(a^2+b^2)/3, where a is the shorter side of the plate and b is the longer side. For this demonstration m=374g, a=20cm, and b=28.2cm.
SUGGESTIONS:
REFERENCES: (PIRA unavailable.) See Demonstration Reference File for additional information.
EQUIPMENT: Plate on stand, as photographed.
SETUP TIME: None.
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