Exploratorium
Balancing Stick
Have some physical science fun when studying the center of gravity or center of mass. Simply have balancing artists stand a dowel on one finger and keep it from falling over! A lump of clay is added and moved up along the dowel over a...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Super Spinners!
Young scholars make spinners to investigate rotational inertia, rotational speed, angular momentum, and velocity. They make two sets of spinners that have different mass distributions and shapes. They complete a worksheet while...
Curated OER
The Spin Doctor Is In
Students are given the difintion of translational motion, which is the object in motion stays in motion. If you are in a car and the car stops, you keep moving. They then discuss rotational motion, which is a spinning object continues to...
Curated OER
Skateboard Science
Young scholars investigate how skaters can turn in midair. In this physics lesson, students relate Newton's Laws to skateboarding. They carry out the maneuver with the help of their classmate.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Rotational Inertial Using Tops
In this inquiry or guided inquiry (depending on grade level) investigation, students will examine factors affecting rotational inertia. Students will keep a science journal of their investigation.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Rotational Motion
Students learn about rotational motion, and the connection between torque and power. Activities include informational text, interactive activities, practice problems, online labs, and virtual animations.
Other
Rotational Dynamics
Excellent site explaining rotational dynamics including work. Site includes links to related topics.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Fictitious Forces and Non Inertial Frames: The Coriolis Force
By the end of this section, you will be able to discuss the inertial frame of reference, discuss the non-inertial frame of reference, and describe the effects of the Coriolis force.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Dynamics of Rotational Motion: Rotational Inertia
By the end of this section, you will be able to understand the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration; study the turning effect of force; study the analogy between force and torque, mass and moment of inertia, and linear...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum: Conceptual Questions
This page provides 30 questions that cover the major concepts presented in Chapter 10: Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum from the AP Physics online text.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Angular Momentum
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this online lesson students will begin to understand what is meant by a rigid body. Learn what torque is and how to use it in solving problems.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Rotational Kinematics and Dynamics
Students explore rotational kinematics and dynamics. Some topics examined in the activities are rotational inertia, kinematics, and translational motion. The resource consists of video clips, lecture notes, practice problems, and exam...
University of Guelph
University of Guelph: Physics Tutorials: Torque and Angular Acceleration
Words and equations are used to explain the relationship between angular acceleration and the torque exerted upon an object. Well-written; great graphics.
University of Guelph
University of Guelph: Physics Tutorials: Moment of Inertia
This site has a list of moments of inertia for various objects.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: The Soup Roll
A lab activity written for grade 5. Students roll various cans down inclined planes and compare the times required to reach the bottom. Results are related to rotational inertia.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Rotational Motion: Investigating Moment of Inertia and Torque
An investigation where students experiment with spools to learn about torque and the moment of inertia. Instructions for a lab report are provided, as well as drawings for students to refer to.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Balancing Stick
An activity to study how the position of the center of gravity is affected by the distribution of mass of an object. This activity ask students to balance a dowel on their finger and by moving the playdoh around the dowel they see how it...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Super Spinners!
Use this hands-on activity to demonstrate rotational inertia, rotational speed, angular momentum, and velocity. Students build at least two simple spinners to conduct experiments with different mass distributions and shapes, as they...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Ring Around the Rosie
Students learn the concept of angular momentum and its correlation to mass, velocity and radius. They experiment with rotation and an object's mass distribution. In an associated literacy activity, students use basic methods of...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Bill Nye Demonstration: Spinning Platform
Watch and learn as Bill Nye the Science Guy demonstrates how to spin really fast. [1:32]
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Circular & Satellite Motion: Uniform Circular Motion
Manipulate variables while exploring principles and relationships related to moving in a circle at a constant speed. Students change the radius of the circle, the speed of the object, and the mass of the object and investigate the effect...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum: Summary
This page provides a summary of each section in Chapter 10: Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum from the AP Physics online text.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Yo Yo
[Free Registration/Login Required] Understand the dynamics of rotating objects in the context of a spinning yo-yo using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [3:29]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Walk the Tightrope
[Free Registration/Login Required] Understand the concept of rotational inertia [moment of inertia) by analyzing the motion of a circus tightrope walker using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also...