Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String

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written by Gary Gladding
published by the University of llinois Physics Education Research Group

This is an interactive homework problem relating to conservation of angular momentum. A small block on a string travels in circular motion on a table top. The string passes through a hole in the table's center, hence the circle radius can be shortened by pulling the string. Given mass of the block, students must determine work done as the circular path decreases from radius .63 m to .51 m.

A user-activated "help" sequence is provided for each step of the problem-solving, from conceptual analysis through quantitative calculation. Immediate feedback is received for both correct and incorrect responses. This item is part of a larger collection of interactive homework problems for introductory physics. See Related items on this page for a link to the full collection.

https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rot...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Rotational Dynamics = Conservation of Angular Momentum = Rotational Energy Education Practices - Active Learning = Problem Solving	- Lower Undergraduate - High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Best practice = Tutorial

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

Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2006 University of Illinois Physics Education Research Group
Keywords:: Work Energy Theorem, angular momentum, homework problem, interactive problem, moment of inertia, rotation
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created February 3, 2008 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: February 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: June 16, 2006

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6436">Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006.</a>

AIP Format

G. Gladding, (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2006), WWW Document, (https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block).

AJP/PRST-PER

G. Gladding, Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String (University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, Urbana, 2006), <https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block>.

APA Format

Gladding, G. (2006, June 16). Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from University of llinois Physics Education Research Group: https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block

Chicago Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, June 16, 2006. https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block (accessed 17 April 2025).

MLA Format

Gladding, Gary. Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String. Urbana: University of llinois Physics Education Research Group, 2006. 16 June 2006. 17 Apr. 2025 <https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Gary Gladding", Title = {Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String}, Publisher = {University of llinois Physics Education Research Group}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {17 April 2025}, Month = {June 16, 2006}, Year = {2006} }

Refer Export Format

%A Gary Gladding %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String %D June 16, 2006 %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %C Urbana %U https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Gladding, Gary %D June 16, 2006 %T Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Rotating Block and String %I University of llinois Physics Education Research Group %V 2025 %N 17 April 2025 %8 June 16, 2006 %9 text/html %U https://ie.per.physics.illinois.edu/per/ie/ie.pl?phys101/ie/09/rotating_block

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

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