Loop the Loop
Loop the Loop
This Demonstration simulates the rolling motion of a solid disk inside a ring.
The disk gains speed while rolling down a ramp of adjustable length and inclination. Inside the ring, the disk either rolls back and forth or makes a full loop inside the ring.
An orange dot-dashed line marks the minimum starting height of the center of the disk to perform a full loop inside the ring.
Only gravity acts on the disk and causes it to roll without slipping.
A gauge shows the potential and kinetic energies during the motion of the disk. The total energy is conserved.