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Veritasium
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Anti gravity wheel
This video demonstrates how a 19kg flywheel, attached to a 1 metre shaft can be lifted easily when the flywheel is spinning, yet almost impossible when stationary. It appears that the rotation reduces the weight of the flywheel. However, when standing on scales and holding the apparatus, the weight does not change and so another explanation is required.
This phenomenon is explained using Newton’s laws of motion and the ideas about torque (rotational forces). When the apparatus is stationary and held by its shaft, the mass of the flywheel creates a torque acting downwards. To balance this an opposite torque needs to be applied. However, when spinning the torque due to its mass makes it precess, rather than fall to the ground, therefore no counter-torque is required, only a force equal to the wheel's weight.
Anti gravity wheel explained
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