Physics Demo Number: 152

Approximate

Run Time: 5 min

Torsional Pendulum

Demo Description

An old torsional pendulum may be used to illustrate torsional harmonic motion.

Scientific Principles

• Angular Harmonic Motion.

Equipment

• Self contained apparatus

Equipment Location

• On [F-1-2]

Instructions

The picture shows the torsional pendulum apparatus from [F-1-2] .

Another view is afforded by the second picture.

One may adjust the radial positions of the weights on the horizontal arm of the apparatus to change the moment of inertia and thus the period of the pendulum.

Writeup created by David A. Burba

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