Study of wheel and axle system using high-speed video analysis technique

Abstract

A high-speed video analysis technique at a rate of 240 frames s^-1 and Tracker video analysis software were used to record and study the behavior of wheel and axle system. The motion of the rotating wheel and axle system and hung masses were analyzed. The efficiency of wheel and axle system, coefficient of rotational friction, and the total mechanical energy in the system were investigated. It was found that the efficiency of wheel and axle system was 83.29 % and the coefficient of rotational friction was 1.64×10^-4 kg m²s^-1. Finally, the total mechanical energy in the system was not conserved during the rolling motion. The total energy lost was caused by the frictional force. From this study, the high-speed video and its analysis can help students and teachers for all levels to visualize simple physics phenomena and relate them to the physics principles learnt in the classroom.