Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum

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published by the Public Broadcasting Service
technical implementer: the Show of Force Productions

This video-based resource examines conservation of angular momentum through the motion of an acrobat doing aerial flips. It explores how a tucked position decreases the acrobat's moment of inertia, resulting in increased rotational velocity. To slow his rotation, he extends his legs. Through the acrobat's motion, the video illustrates how angular momentum is conserved for a body in flight. Supplementary materials help students integrate concepts to perform calculations relating to angular momentum and moment of inertia.

This resource was developed in conjunction with the PBS series Circus. See Related Materials for a link to the full set of 8 Circus Physics video-based lessons.

https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-con...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Rotational Dynamics = Conservation of Angular Momentum Education Practices - Technology = Multimedia	- High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Instructor Guide/Manual - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners - Educators	- text/html - video/shockwave	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2010 Public Broadcasting System
Keywords:: angular momentum, angular momentum video, moment of inertia, physics videos, video-based learning
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created November 19, 2013 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: August 19, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Other Collections:: The PSRC

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Next Generation Science Standards

Disciplinary Core Ideas (K-12)

Forces and Motion (PS2.A)

The motion of an object is determined by the sum of the forces acting on it; if the total force on the object is not zero, its motion will change. The greater the mass of the object, the greater the force needed to achieve the same change in motion. For any given object, a larger force causes a larger change in motion. (6-8)
Momentum is defined for a particular frame of reference; it is the mass times the velocity of the object. (9-12)

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)

Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking (5-12)

Mathematical and computational thinking at the 9–12 level builds on K–8 and progresses to using algebraic thinking and analysis, a range of linear and nonlinear functions including trigonometric functions, exponentials and logarithms, and computational tools for statistical analysis to analyze, represent, and model data. Simple computational simulations are created and used based on mathematical models of basic assumptions. (9-12)
- Use mathematical representations of phenomena or design solutions to support and revise explanations. (9-12)

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

2. The Nature of Mathematics

2B. Mathematics, Science, and Technology

9-12: 2B/H3. Mathematics provides a precise language to describe objects and events and the relationships among them. In addition, mathematics provides tools for solving problems, analyzing data, and making logical arguments.

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion

9-12: 4F/H8. Any object maintains a constant speed and direction of motion unless an unbalanced outside force acts on it.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Alignments

Standards for Mathematical Practice (K-12)

MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

High School — Algebra (9-12)

Seeing Structure in Expressions (9-12)

A-SSE.1.a Interpret parts of an expression, such as terms, factors, and coefficients.

Creating Equations^? (9-12)

A-CED.4 Rearrange formulas to highlight a quantity of interest, using the same reasoning as in solving equations.

High School — Functions (9-12)

Linear, Quadratic, and Exponential Models^? (9-12)

F-LE.1.b Recognize situations in which one quantity changes at a constant rate per unit interval relative to another.
F-LE.5 Interpret the parameters in a linear or exponential function in terms of a context.

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=13047">Show of Force Productions. Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum. Arlington: Public Broadcasting Service, 2010.</a>

AIP Format

(Public Broadcasting Service, Arlington, 2010), WWW Document, (https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/).

AJP/PRST-PER

Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum (Public Broadcasting Service, Arlington, 2010), <https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/>.

APA Format

Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum. (2010). Retrieved April 18, 2024, from Public Broadcasting Service: https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/

Chicago Format

Show of Force Productions. Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum. Arlington: Public Broadcasting Service, 2010. https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/ (accessed 18 April 2024).

MLA Format

Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum. Arlington: Public Broadcasting Service, 2010. Show of Force Productions. 18 Apr. 2024 <https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum}, Publisher = {Public Broadcasting Service}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {18 April 2024}, Year = {2010} }

Refer Export Format

%T Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum %D 2010 %I Public Broadcasting Service %C Arlington %U https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/ %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D 2010 %T Circus Physics: Conservation of Angular Momentum %I Public Broadcasting Service %V 2024 %N 18 April 2024 %9 text/html %U https://www.thirteen.org/programs/circus/circus-circus-physics-conservation-of-angular-momentum/

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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

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