How ice skaters, divers, and gymnasts get themselves spinning and twisting faster.

You’ve probably seen an ice skater spinning on the tip of one skate suddenly start to spin dramatically faster. A diver or gymnast may also suddenly flip or twist much faster. This speeded-up rotation results from a sudden redistribution of mass. You can [...]

Does it matter which end is up?

The distribution of the mass of an object determines the position of its center of gravity, its angular momentum, and your ability to balance it!

One 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) wooden dowel, approximately 3 feet (90 cm) long. The dowel rotates more slowly [...]