Torque and Rotation
The Torque and Rotation Interactive provides endless explorations into the world of rotation. The idea is simple: apply a force to an object some distance from its axis of rotation and observe the variety of angular quantities over the course of time. Then let the what if? questions reign as you explore what happens if the shape of the object changes, if the mass of the object changes, if the dimensions of the objet changes, if the direction of the force or the magnitude of the force or the location that the force is applied changes. The number of explorations that you can conduct with a simple idea become enormous with this simulation. Take your time. Explore. Interact. Learn.
Users are encouraged to open the Interactive and explore. To facilitate a more directed experience, The Physics Classroom has prepared a guided activity to support the use of this simulation. Visit
Student Exercise.
Instructors may also be interested in viewing the accompanying
Notes page. Technical information, teaching suggestions, and related resources that complement this Interactive are provided on the Notes page. View
Notes.
We owe a special thanks to Physics teacher Martin Kirby for contributing the Torque and Rotation Simulation to our Interactives collection. Martin has contributed many other simulations to our Interactives collection. You can view them all by visiting our page listing all
Martin Kirby Simulations. Or visit Martin's website (
kirbyx.com) to learn more.