Delineating the Rotational Motion of Hula-hooping Process

Genieline V. Magalona*,Amante T. Ama

Engineering and Science Education Project, Camarines Sur National High School
Peafracia Avenue, Naga City
*Corresponding Author: geniemagalona@outlook.com
Abstract
Motion is a natural event that involves a change in the position that
does not entail a change of location. In this study, hula-hooping process was
used as an example of Rotational Motion. When the person hand is inside the
hoop they move their hand to propel the hoop around them, theyre exerting
force. There are two force present in playing the hula-hoop; friction and torque.
This study denotes the results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of
the rotational motion present in hula-hoop when it is being used. The hula-hoop
was spinning in one revolution only. Tracker and MS Excel was used to show
and analyzed the data of the hula-hooping process. Given the data from the
Tracker the polynomial equation of the rotational motion of the Hula-hoop is

y=413.87 x 2 +26968 x439281 . The equation of the graph of the

angular velocity vs. time is y = -352.1x^2 + 23019x 376153.
Keywords: Rotational Motion, Friction, Torque, Hula-hoop, Tracker
1. Introduction
One of the famous toys that children like to play, especially girls are hula-hoops. Hula-hoop is a plaything
consisting of a tubular plastic hoop for swinging around the hips. The ancient Greeks were the first to popularize the
hoop and it was a toy for Greek children, but it was also an exercise device [1]. Several combinations of forces make
a hula-hoop spin around a person's waist or even hands. One of the involved force in the hula-hooping process is
Friction. Friction is a force that is created whenever two surfaces move or try to move across each other [2].
Another force involved in hula-hooping is Torque. Torque is a measure of how much a force acting on an object
causes that object to rotate [3].
Using a hula-hoop there is a type of motion present in playing the hula-hoop. Motion is a natural event that
involves a change in the position or location of something. Physics studies, many types of motion and forces; motion
is one of the key topics in physics [4]. Motion is described in terms of displacement, time, velocity and acceleration
[5]. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement and the acceleration is the rate of change of velocity [5]. There are
four basic types of motion; rotary motion, linear motion, reciprocating motion and oscillating motion [6]. The rotary
motion or rotational motion is a motion present in playing the hula-hoop. Rotation or Rotational Motion refers to the
motion about a fixed point [7]. An axis of rotation is a line passing through this fixed point, perpendicular to the
plane in which the body is moving [7]. The term rotational motion can be used to describe the rotation around a
fixed axis, precession (where the orientation of the axis of rotation changes), and nutation (where the axis of rotation
wobbles) [7].
Tracker and Microsoft Excel are used by the researcher to analyze the motion of the hula-hoop and to
create the equation respectively. Tracker is a free video analysis and modeling tool built on the Open Source Physics
(OSP) Java framework. It is designed to be used in physics education and a powerful new way to combine videos
with computer modeling [8]. Microsoft Excel provides a grid interface for organizing nearly any type of
information. The power of Excel lies in its flexibility to define the layout and structure of the information you want
to manage [9].
This study denotes the results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of the rotational motion
present in hula-hoop when it is being used. This study aims to know the polynomial equation of the rotational
motion of the hula-hoop using the tracker and Microsoft Excel. The purpose of the study is to create the equation of
the rotational motion of the hula-hoop using the Tracker, to measure the spinning motion of the hoop and to know
the forces exerted by the person when using a hula-hoop.

The research study could provide information about the rotational motion, angular velocity, friction and
torque and hula-hoop. This study would be beneficial to the students and teachers to learn or to know the physics
behind the hula-hooping process. To the future researchers, this study can provide baseline information on the
different types of motion especially rotational motion.
2. Methodology
The approach used by the researcher are theoretical and experimental. The researcher need the following
materials in conducting the experiment: hula-hoop and hand of the person. The hula-hoop of the researcher contain
sands. Tracker and Microsoft Excel were used by the researcher to know the equation. Tracker was used to graph, to
know the x- values and t-values. The x-values and t-values were placed in Microsoft Excel to plot and calculate the
polynomial equation of the graph.

(a)
(b)
Fig.1. The hula-hoop used by the researcher (a) and the hula-hooping process
Hoops are able to spin around the human body form the momentum the person provides by rocking back
and forth pushing the hip and belly forward, slightly shifting the weight as it spins around the waist of the person. In
this study, the researcher used the hand to spin the hula-hoop. The figure 1 shows the researcher conducting hulahoop using her hand. In hula-hooping, the researcher choose the right size of hoop. The right size hoop for the
researcher was measured from the ground up to the belly button. Researcher played the hula-hoop inside their house
and clear some space so that the researcher wouldnt crush everything around. The researcher stands up straight and
held the hula-hoop so that to have the center point and the hula-hoop would not jump all over the place. The
researcher lets her arm trace the shape of the hula-hoop, move it down and out to the right once. Then downing up to
the right reaching the point of her wrist to complete the isolation of the body. When the researcher got the point, she
released the hook and let it roll over on the top of the hand.
3. Result and Discussion
Hooping has now become a popular fitness activity, with classes taking place in many towns and cities
across the world. In this study, the hula-hoop was used to show an example of rotational motion. When the persons
hand is inside the hoop they move their hand to propel the hoop around them, theyre exerting an upward force. The
turning force known as Torque. Torque is an outward force that is needed to cause the hoop to spin. Another force

involved in playing the hula-hoop is friction. This study aims to know the polynomial equation of the rotational
motion of the hula-hoop using the tracker and Microsoft Excel.

Fig.2. The Point Mass Graph (time vs. angular velocity).

Using the tracker, the researcher able to have the figure 2 by tracking the motion of the hula-hoop. The
hula-hoop was spin one revolution only. The angular velocity or rotational velocity is a quantitative expression of
the amount of rotation of the spinning Hula-hoop that undergoes per unit time. Using the MS Excel, the researcher
calculated the equation for the graph of the angular velocity. The equation of the graph is
2

y=352.1 x +23019 x 376153 .

Fig.3. The Point Mass Graph (time vs. horizontal component).

Figure 3 shows the graph of the data gathered by getting the point mass using the Tracker, a physics
software. The dependent variable of the graph is x or the horizontal component not the angular velocity. Figure 2
and figure 3 both have time as the independent variable. Both graphs show the data that's been gathered of the
researcher. Analyzing the graph, the data almost formed a parabola.

Fig.4. The graph of the data in the Tracker placed in MS Excel to create polynomial equation.
Microsoft Excel was used by the researcher to create the polynomial equation of the gathered data in the
Tracker. The graph of the rotational motion is a polynomial, a combination of a constant, direct, square, cube and
etc. The general form is

y=a+bx+ c x 2 +d 3 + . The x is approximated by an nth order of polynomial of

time (t). Given the data from the Tracker the polynomial equation of the rotational motion of the Hula-hoop is

y=413.87 x 2 +26968 x439281 .

4. Conclusion
Hula-hooping is a plaything consisting of a tubular plastic hoop for swinging around the hips and hands.
Children and even adults love to use it for fun and workout. In this study, the researcher focus on the physics behind
the hula-hooping. This study denotes the results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of the rotational
motion present in hula-hoop when it is being used. The hula-hoop was spinning in one revolution only. Tracker and
MS Excel were used to show and analyzed the data of the hula-hooping process. Hula-hooping is an example of the
rotational motion. The graph of the hula-hoop presents a polynomial graph. Indicating that all data of each example
of the rotational motion form a polynomial paragraph. A polynomial graph forms a polynomial equation. The datum
of the rotational motion of the hula-hooping forms an equation of

y=413.87 x 2 +26968 x439281 .

Using the MS Excel, the researcher calculated the equation for the graph of the angular velocity. The equation of the
graph is

y=352.1 x 2 +23019 x 376153 .

Acknowledgement
This research paper is made possible through the help and support from the parents, teachers, neighbor and
friends of the researcher. Especially, please allow the researcher to dedicate their acknowledgement of gratitude to
the following significant person: First and foremost, the researcher would like to thank Eris Tanay for his
suggestions and guidance, Khryss Araas for helping the researcher to use the tracker. Second, researchers would
like to thank their neighbor Mr. and Mrs. Aguilar for lending the hula-hoop to the researcher. Finally, the researcher
sincerely thank their parents, teachers, neighbor and friends, who provide the advice and moral support. The product
of this research paper would not be possible without all of them.

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