Pulsar Model
Purpose
A spinning bowling ball with an embedded flashlight models the lighthouse effect of a pulsar. Students see how a misaligned beam on a rotating object produces periodic flashes, connecting to how we observe pulsed radiation from rotating neutron stars.
Figure 1:
Bowling ball on air gyroscope base with Mini Maglite inserted into a finger hole. The compressed air hose connects to the lecture bench supply.
Equipment
- 1