A Flying Pig Toy in AP Physics

In AP Physics class students are reviewing various topics and performing lab experiments to help them remember materials for the upcoming AP test. One of the topics students are reviewing is that of circular motion.
A Flying Pig is a toy that hangs from the ceiling, and when turned on it flaps its wings to push it forward. With a starting push, the pig will fly around and settle into a circular pattern and continue to fly until it is caught and turned off.

The string that holds the pig performs a double purpose; it keeps the pig from falling sadly to the floor, and when the pig is flying it confines the pig to a circle. Students experimented with how different lengths of the string will cause identical pigs to fly circles at different speeds, and fly outward from the center at different angles.

Students use this lab to practice collecting data and graphing trends of data points to try to find patterns. Students also can’t help but smile as they enjoy the silliness of causing pigs to fly around the classroom. The pigs are a favorite among the students who have used them, and students ask to keep them hanging up in the classroom even when they aren’t being used as they find the pigs’ presence soothing.
 - Will Norton, AP Physics Teacher
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Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.