Tangential Velocity Launcher

A Tangential Velocity Launcher for demonstrating that an object moves tangent to the curve once it leaves its circular path

A marble or bearing can be spun up with the lever in the down position and then released by opening the lever gate. Provided with the instructions to “score a goal”, students tend to “discover” the idea of tangential velocity on their own :)

The lever is held together with a single M3 x 12 mm machine screw. This screw threads itself into the ring piece but is a slip fit on the lever allowing it to move freely.

To hold the ring together when the gate is down, two 3x1 mm neodymium magnets were superglued into the recessed holes designed into the adjacent faces.