Motion of the Center of Mass: Throw Objects

Photo shows the demonstration used at the University of Texas at Austin.

Instructions / Notes:

• The demonstration includes three oblong foam objects with the same thickness, their centers of masses being marked by an orange dot sticker. A UV light is provided to make the orange dots stand out.
• Spin and toss each object upward so that the object is airborne parallel to the black boards, and the stickers face the students.
• The centers of mass can be observed to move in a parabolic arc despite the less-predictable motion of the rest of the object.

Last updated on November 7, 2024