Mechanical conservation of energy/ Maxwell's wheel

Principle

A disc, which can unroll with its axis on two cords, moves in the gravitational field. Potential energy, energy of translation and energy of rotation are converted into one another and are determined as a function of time.

Benefits

• High and sturdy set-up
• Expressive demonstration of energy conversion
• Convert potential energy in energy of rotation, energy of translation, and vice versa

Tasks

The moment of inertia of the Maxwell disc is determined. Using the Maxwell disc,

1. the potential energy,
2. the energy of translation,
3. the energy of rotation,

are determined as a function of time.

Learning objectives

• Maxwell disc
• Energy of translation
• Energy of rotation
• Potential energy
• Moment of inertia
• Angular velocity
• Angular acceleration
• Instantaneous velocity
• Gyroscope