Learning physics by experiment: VII. Moment of inertia (Student edition)

This paper is a companion to one having a similar title with “Instructor edition”. The reason for having two separate papers is that their combination would otherwise interrupt the flow of each part at the expense of the other. Details are provided here of various experiments, which examine the effect of mass, length, radius, shape and density when one or more of the other parameters is kept constant. Challenges identified in the companion paper were tackled directly by the endeavor and tenacity of students, who engaged in robust discussions to maximize understanding even when results were ambiguous and/or inconclusive. As with many experimental undertakings, there was considerable trial and error; however, student progress and learning were evident in abundance, thereby increasing the success of the philosophy reported in earlier work[1-8].

[1] *.2010.APR.Z11.7; [2] http://www.aapt.org/AbstractSearch/FullAbstract.cfm?KeyID=17763; [3] *.2012.APR.J15.8; [4] *.2014.APR.D1.50; [5] *.2018.APR.F01.5; [6] *.2019.MAR.G70.102**; [7] *.2019.MAR.G70.103**, [8] *.2019.MAR.G70.104** {* http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS; ** in press}