PURPOSE: To illustrate how a rigid rod topples on a frictionless surface.
DESCRIPTION: A wooden dowel with its center of mass marked is held vertically with the bottom end supported by a very light air table puck. When it is released and allowed to topple, which point of the stick will be directly above the original support point: the top end, the bottom end, or the center of mass? Note that the stick has a small counterweight on its top end to compensate for the mass of the puck.
SUGGESTIONS: Let your students guess before doing the experiment.
REFERENCES: (PIRA unavailable.)
EQUIPMENT: Pointer with counterweight, air table with puck, as photographed.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.
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