Rolling Objects and Moments of Inertia

Purpose:

To show that objects having different moments of inertia accelerate at different rates when rolling down an inclined plane.

Equipment:

Set of specially constructed rolling objects with differing moments of inertia, inclined plane, meter stick.

Procedure:

Roll different objects down the incline in race fashion, starting them with the meter stick. Interpret results in terms of moments of inertia. Also note that the time of descent is independent of the radius so the objects need not have the same radius or mass.