Flying Pig

Why Every Science Department Needs a Flying Pig

If there’s one physics demo that instantly sparks curiosity, delivers deep conceptual learning, and adds a touch of whimsy to your classroom—it’s the Flying Pig from Arbor Scientific.  Better yet? This one investment can be used across your science department.

From centripetal force to orbital mechanics, this deceptively simple device captures students' attention and supports a wide range of standards-based instruction. Whether you're teaching high school physics, AP Physics, chemistry, earth science, or even astronomy, the Flying Pig can bring your lessons to life.

Here’s how educators across disciplines use the Flying Pig to elevate their teaching—and why it deserves a permanent spot in your classroom.

1. Teaching Circular Motion and Centripetal Force? This Is a Must-Have.

The Flying Pig is a go-to demo for illustrating circular motion and centripetal force. As it flaps its wings in a perfect circle, students can explore:

• Why the pig moves in a circle
• What would happen if the string were cut
• Whether or not the pig is accelerating

Using the Flying Pig makes it easier to reinforce Newton's First Law and help students see that centripetal force isn’t a “new” force, but rather any force that keeps an object moving in a circular path. Plus, with energy bar charts and kinetic energy discussions, it’s a great visual for energy transfer too.

2. An Engaging Model for Orbital Mechanics and Astronomy

Share the investment between Physics and Earth and Space Science. The Flying Pig also functions as a classroom-friendly model for Kepler’s Laws, Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, and orbital motion. Representing planets orbiting the sun, it helps students explore concepts like:

• Elliptical orbits and eccentricity
• Conic sections (circles, ellipses, parabolas, hyperbolas)
• Hohmann Transfers and orbital speed changes

You can even simulate artificial gravity with this little pig—bringing in real-world connections to astronaut training, amusement park rides, and fighter pilot G-forces.

3. Chemistry Connections? Yes, Really.

Chemistry teachers can also benefit from the Flying Pig. In a chemistry classroom, it’s a brilliant physical model for illustrating:

• Rutherford's atomic model (electrons orbiting the nucleus)
• Why Rutherford’s model was replaced by the Bohr model
• Atomic radius trends on the periodic table (adding mass to the pig shortens its orbit—just like added protons shrink the radius)

That’s right—this pig even helps students understand atomic structure.

5. Budget-Friendly, Durable, and Seriously Fun

The Flying Pig meets every teacher’s checklist:

✅ Affordable
✅ Versatile across subjects and grade levels
✅ Durable enough for daily classroom use
✅ Easy to set up and store

Many educators report using the same pig for over 7 years, bringing it out across different units and courses again and again.