1375 Maxwell’s pendulum

Maxwell’s pendulum is composed of a wheel suspended by two strings. These strings will be rolled up on an axis passing through the wheel’s centre of mass. Releasing the wheel, the two strings are rolled up and down on the axis. If there was no friction, the wheel would reach the initial elevation. This up&down motion will be repeated many times. Its period depends on: the initial height h, from which the wheel was released, the gravity acceleration g and the ratio between the wheel radius and the pivot radius.
Using the distance sensor (not supplied) students are allowed to evaluate the wheel velocity and to make accurate calculations.

1 Interface code 9001
1 Distance sensor code 9041
or
1 USB distance sensor code 9066