Northwestern Physics Demos                                 Go back to Mechanics
DCS# 1D50.30NWU# M-95
title: Rotor Ride
aka: round up 

Description:
Plexiglass cylinder is spun with a hand rotator.  When up to an appropriate speed (practise!), the plastic man shape is placed on the wall to which it sticks.  As the rotor's rotational speed decreases, the figure will slide down, and at a very low speed, will fall inward.

Questions:
  Where does the normal force of friction originate to hold up the figure?
   What does a free body diagram look like for the figure stuck to the wall and not sliding?
image of cylinder