Loop-the-loop Demonstration with Rolling Radius Correction

Leonid Minkin, Daniel Sikes

Portland Community College, Portland OR, USA

The well known demonstration of loop-the-loop motion, which validates the law of mechanical energy conservation and exhibits the centripetal force, is considered. The correction in the calculation of the minimum height relative to the bottom of the loop, where a solid sphere should be placed and started from the rest in order that it may make the loop while remaining in contact with the surface, is made.