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Physics Trick - Balanced Can, Said Shakerin
Physics Trick - Balanced Can, Said Shakerin
All Faculty Articles - School of Engineering and Computer Science
The ordinary 12-oz beverage cans in the figures below are not held up with any props or glue. The bottom of such cans is stepped at its circumference for better stacking. When this kind of can is tilted, as shown in Fig. 1, the outside corners of the step touch the surface beneath, providing an effective contact about 1 cm wide. Because the contact is relatively wide and the geometry is symmetrical, it is easy to balance an empty can by simply adding an appropriate amount of water so that the overall center of mass is located directly above the …
Helicopter Toy And Lift Estimation, Said Shakerin
Helicopter Toy And Lift Estimation, Said Shakerin
All Faculty Articles - School of Engineering and Computer Science
A $1 plastic helicopter toy (called a Wacky Whirler) can be used to demonstrate lift. Students can make basic measurements of the toy, use reasonable assumptions and, with the lift formula, estimate the lift, and verify that it is sufficient to overcome the toy's weight.