PURPOSE: To show the effect of moment of inertia on the acceleration of bodies rolling down an incline.

DESCRIPTION: Different objects are rolled from rest down an incline, and their accelerations compared. The acceleration is less for those bodies with the smaller radius of gyration (square root of the moment of inertia per unit mass). Available rollers include rings, discs, and solid spheres of different masses and radii.

SUGGESTIONS: Have the students guess which mass will be the fastest

EQUIPMENT: Inclined plane with large box of rolling bodies.

SETUP TIME: 15 minutes

KEYWORDS: moment of inertia masses down a incline