How It Works

Introduction

Conservation of Energy:

When a Euler's disk is spun, the disk contains both potential and kinetic energy. The potential energy is stored in to the disk when it is placed upright on its side, kinetic energy, when it is spun on the mirrored base. Euler's Disk would spin and roll indefinately if it were not for friction and vibrations. During the process, only kinetic energy is lost because of the lack of change in height, mass, and gravity.

Scientific Principles:

Angular Momentum:

Like a top, Euler's Disk uses its angular momentum to hold itself upright. As the disk spins and rolls around in a circle it is held in place by a balance of the gravitational force pulling the disk down and the force applied by the mirror base which holds the disk up.

Materials:

Euler's Disk

Mirror base

Level surface

Safety Procedures:

N/A

w_s - rate of rotation of disk (radians/second)

w_p - rate of precession (radians/second)

A - contact point between disk and flat surface

C - point where the axis of precession intersects the flat surface

r_c - horizontal distance from the axis of precession to the center of mass G of the disk. (center of mass assumed to coincide with geometric center of disk)

r - radius of the disk

θ - angle between the horizontal and disk