Physics Demo Number: 189

Approximate

Run Time: 5 min

Stable, Unstable and Neutral Static Equilibrium

Demo Description

A shop-made top-like fixture is used to display the three mentioned types of static equlibrium.

A second shop-made cylinder-with- insert type fixture can be used to further illustrate stable versus unstable static equilibrium.

 

Scientific Principles

• Small perturbations of the center of mass of a body in static equilibrium lead to different outcomes depending on the exact conditions of the static equilibrium state of the body.

Equipment

• Two shop made fixtures resembling a top and a cylinder

 

Equipment Location

• Kit(189) on [E-2-4]

Instructions

The first three photos captured the top fixture in states of neutral, stable, and unstable static equilibrium.

Photos 4 and 5 captured the cylinder fixture in states of unstable and stable static equilibrium.

Writeup created by David A. Burba

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