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Veritasium
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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Spinning tube trick
This video poses a problem of a spinning tube which has an X and O written on either end. If the tube is spun from the X end only an X is seen. Likewise, if the tube is spun from the O end only a O is seen.
A camera is placed underneath a glass table and students asked to predict what would be seen if the tube is spun from the X end (they see a O).
The explanation
The tune spins about both its long axis and horizontally. By pressing on the X end this makes this end spin in the opposite direction to the spinning motion of the tube. The O end will spin in the same direction as the tube.
Essentially, the X spin is opposed to the tubes spin and so moves relatively slower than the O end. The X end is therefore in our field of view for longer than the O end and so we see this rather than the O end.
Spinning tube trick explained
Spinning tube trick answer
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