ERIC Number: EJ1366184
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Nov
Pages: 2
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: EISSN-1943-4928
Available Date: N/A
The 3D-Printed Twirly Whirly: A New Spin on a Toy for Teaching Moment of Inertia
Perry, Spencer
Physics Teacher, v60 n8 p642-643 Nov 2022
The use of toys as teaching aids in physics classrooms has a rich history, and the role of play in science education is a well-established line of research. Much of what has been written on the topic has included discussions of specific toys and the implications of using those toys to teach physics. One of the toys from my childhood that seems to be absent from discussions in this journal is what I call a "twirly whirly," though I have also heard it referred to using the names "button flywheel," "buzz toy," and "whirligig." In this paper, I will discuss the development of a 3D-printed twirly whirly, its use in an inquiry activity to introduce moment of inertia, and a few ideas for extending the activity into more robust physics investigations.
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://aapt.scitation.org/journal/pte
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A