With the following setup you can cause the pipe to move slowly in the same way that it moves while spinning freely.
Drive a thin nail partially into a
4"x4" block of wood leaving
about 3/4 inch sticking up.
|
Cut two short pieces of 1" OD PVC pipe.
Plug a cork into one end of each pipe.
Connect the pipes with an on-center
needle, leaving an 1/8" gap
between the pipes.
|
Press down on the "O" end of the cylinder
and roll it forward against the nail, keeping the
end nearest the O from slipping on the wood. Notice the velocity
of the X and the O with respect to the block of wood as
they rotate to the top.
|
Why does the pipe, after bouncing around a bit, end up spinning in one place, with one end rolling on the table without slipping?