Period 7
AP Physics-1
Abstract
Hula hooping is one of the great childhood pastimes, beloved by kids all over the world as a schoolyard staple. A simple toy, just a large, hollow hoop, usually lightweight plastic, balanced in rotational equilibrium around someone's hips. Sure it seems easy enough to master the motion, but have you ever stopped to think of the physical mechanics of the process? By all logical reasoning, a hula hoop should fall to the floor, due to the effect of gravity, so why is it able to stay rotating around your hips? Many physics concepts are at work in the efforts of hula hooping, such as centripetal force, friction, inertia, and torque. I explore these concepts and more in my paper linked below, “The Physics of Hula Hooping”.
Great idea for a project. You wouldn't think something so simple would contain so much physics.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your research paper! Reading through your paper, I could have guessed that centripetal forces were acting on a hula hoop keeping it in motion, but i had never thought of friction acting on the hoola hoop, and only after you mentioned it in your article did I realize just how important friction is in moving a hula hoop! Thanks for the great presentation!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting project. I didn't think physics played a role in something as simple as hula hooping. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great project that's very thorough in research and application ! I had no idea something as simple as hula-hooping uses physics! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis was a very fun and different project. I didn't know physics could be used in hula hooping too! I learned a lot reading this.
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