Loop the Loop

PIRA 1M40.20

Materials: Loop Ramp, 1 Yellow Ball

Guide the class through a calculation of the minimum height required for a ball released on the loop-the-loop track shown at left to complete the loop.  A 1.5" to 2" diameter bouncy ball works best - it will roll without slipping.  Rotational kinetic energy must be included, and the radius of the path of the ball is not the same as the radius of the track.

A worthwhile variation is to deliberately leave out rotational kinetic energy, and ask the class why the ball did not complete the loop.