Purpose: To examine the effect of the moment of inertial of various shaped objects as they roll down a ramp.

There is a large collection of various spheres, disks, and hoops that can be raced down the ramp.

Place the various objects on the ramp and release them simultaneously. There is a metal plate to put in front of the objects that make it easier to start them together. Compare the angular acceleration by comparing the arrival times of different objects that are rolled down the ramp. Comparisons can be made between spheres, disk, and hoops of the same diameter. Comparisons can be made between the same shape object of different sizes. There is even an object that is not weighted evenly that only rolls when it is started just right.

References: