Name: Nicole S.
Status: student
Age: 18
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Thursday, June 06, 2002
Question:
How does the toy, Hula Hoop work?
Replies:
Nicole,
A hula hoop works very much like a rock on a string. The center of mass of
the hula hoop corresponds with the rock. Where your hip makes contact with
the hoop corresponds with where your hand holds the string. I cannot
explain much further without diagrams. I am not very good at making such
diagrams in e-mail messages. Your text may show the force vectors for a
rock on a string even if it doesn't talk about a hula hoop. The ideas are
the same.
Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College
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