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Precession and how applied torque changes direction, not speed Real-world applications: bicycles, satellites, flywheels, and rotating machinery
Force & Motion
Best Seller
Gyroscope Wheel
Item #93-3501
$197.00
Bundle Discount
| Unit Price | $197.00 |
| 6+ | $177.00 |
Classroom-ready upgrade of the classic physics bicycle wheel demo
Bring rotational physics to life with Arbor Scientific’s exclusive Gyroscope Wheel, a classroom-ready evolution of the traditional bicycle wheel demo. Unlike models that rely on spoked bicycle wheels with sluggish bearings, this Arbor Scientific exclusive features solid construction with no spokes, secure built-in grips, and exceptionally smooth ball bearings for safe handling and crisp, responsive motion during demonstrations.
Adjustable masses around the rim allow students to explore rotational inertia and gyroscopic precession firsthand, feeling how changes in mass distribution affect angular momentum, stability, and resistance to tipping. The result is a safer, smoother, and far more reliable way to teach classic bicycle-wheel physics—without the compromises of DIY setups.
Why Teachers Love the Gyroscope Wheel
- Arbor-exclusive classroom design: Inspired by the classic bicycle-wheel demo but purpose-built for durability, balance, and daily student use.
- Students can feel the physics: Angular momentum, torque, and precession are experienced directly—not just calculated.
- High-engagement demos: Creates memorable “wow” moments that anchor deeper discussions of rotational motion.
- Safer than traditional bike wheel demos: No spokes or rubber tires that pose a hazard to anyone doing the demonstration.
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Product Details
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Using the Gyroscope Wheel with a Rotating Platform
When paired with our Rotating Platform (#P3-3510), the Gyroscope Wheel unlocks some of the most powerful rotational demonstrations in physics. A student holds the spinning wheel while rotating on the platform; when the wheel is flipped, the student-platform system responds by changing rotation speed or direction. This dramatic setup vividly demonstrates conservation of angular momentum in an isolated system.
Teachers commonly use this combination to:
- Show how internal changes affect system rotation
- Compare clockwise vs. counterclockwise angular momentum
- Reinforce vector nature of angular momentum
- Connect equations to real motion students can observe—and feel
Together, the Gyroscope Wheel and Rotating Platform create a cornerstone experience for any unit on rotational dynamics.
Products being sold are not toys. They are for Educational / Laboratory use only. They are not for use by children 12 and under.
Product Specifications
Specs:
Wheel: 59 cm diameter, 1 cm thick, rotating assembly weighs 1500 g without masses.
Pulley: 18 mm diameter
Handles: 120 mm long x 22.5 mm diameter, 8 mm holes
Masses: 100 x 40 x 6 mm, tapped with M6 hole, approximately 183.5 g ea.
Screws for securing masses: M6 x 1.00 mm, 10 mm long
What's Included:
Arbor Scientific Gyroscope Wheel
4 adjustable masses with screws and washers
Pull cord
Bungee cord
2 easy-grip handles with holes for precession demos
4 mm hex key for adjusting masses
Warning: California Residents
WARNING: Cancer & Reproductive Harm — www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
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