Ball and Hoop Apparatus
- Ball and Hoop Apparatus shows the use of electromechanical servo systems for position and velocity control.
- The apparatus has a steel ball that rolls inside a hoop.
- The hoop is free to rotate, but controlled by a servomotor.
- Transducers give outputs of the hoop and ball positions.
- When the hoop is under angular position control, the ball moves like a cylindrical pendulum.
- This allows students to use it as a model for the study of liquid slop dynamics.
- It also works as a model to show liquid slop problems, for example: aircraft missile fuel storage, fuel tankers and industrial pumping systems.