Can you spin a toy hoop? A toy hoop is a plastic ring that you twirl around your waist. Some people can even use their arms or legs. The motion of your body keeps the hoop up and spinning. But if you’ve ever watched a group of people try it, you’ve probably noticed that some can do it with ease, while others have a hard time, no matter what they try. A new study reveals why.
To spin the toy hoop, you apply an outward force [a push or pull] from your hips. At the same time, you apply a torque, or twisting force. If you are a good hooper, you can keep the hoop spinning quickly and easily. Your force balances the force of gravity [the force of attraction between two objects due to their mass] pulling down on the hoop. Some people can hoop for hours.
But what does it take to a be a good hooper? As it turns out, it is more than just technique. Researchers tested different motions and body shapes using robots. They found that the body shape of the robots was critical to their success. The best robotic hoopers had a pear- or hourglass-shaped body. They had both sloping hips that push the toy hoop up and a narrow waist that could keep the hoop in place.
Of course, other factors also affect your success in hooping. If you’ve ever tried it, you know that the speed at which the toy hoop is launched and the speed at which your hips move are also important.
But if hooping just isn’t one of your talents, give yourself a break. Some people just aren’t built for it.
What Do You Think? Why do you think the study used robots instead of people?
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