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Saturday May 16, 2020
AUTHOR:
Cameron Terrill
FACULTY: Dr.TR Brooks
DEPARTMENT: Psychology
A spinning gyroscope applies torque through rotational inertia to its central axis. This torque can change how a held rod feels when swinging it around. Could the rotational inertia of a gyroscope affect how an individual perceives the length of a rod? In this experiment, we met with psychology students and asked them to wield gyroscope devices and estimate their length on a measuring device. These devices were three different lengths of rods with gyroscopes at the end spinning at intervals of -733 radians per second (rad/s), 0 rad/s, or 733 rad/s. They were also asked to wield these devices by turning them 90° in one direction or moving 45° forward and backward. We predict that the rod will be judged as longer as the gyroscope spins at 733 rad/s and, inversely, the rod will feel shorter when the gyroscope spins at -733 rad/s. We also predict that this will only happen in the 90° wield motion and will not show up in the 45° wield motion. These results will be analyzed by a 2(motion) x3(length) x3(rpm) mixed effects ANOVA. This research will help with the understanding of force feedback devices and how we interact with the world around us.
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