Experimental verification of the adiabatic transfer in Wilberforce pendulum normal modes

A pendulum bob has been constructed to experimentally probe the adiabatic transfer in the normal modes of a Wilberforce pendulum. The rotational inertia of the pendulum bob can be changed during its motion in order to follow the gradual transition from a pure translational to a pure rotational oscillation. The reported extension of the conventional use of the Wilberforce pendulum helps understand and demonstrate the concept of normal modes, coupled oscillators, beating, and avoided crossing in undergraduate university classes. (C) 2018 American Association of Physics Teachers.