Gee-Haw Whammy Diddle

TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the Gee-Haw Whammy Diddle, revealing new insights into its motion mechanics and challenging previous assumptions about the necessity of elliptic motion or frequency synchronization for propeller rotation.

Contribution

The study offers a comprehensive analysis of the toy’s physics, demonstrating that propeller motion does not require elliptic stick motion or frequency synchronization, contrary to earlier claims.

Findings

Neither elliptic motion nor frequency synchronization is necessary for propeller rotation.

The analysis clarifies the physical principles behind the toy's motion.

Parameters influencing the motion are thoroughly examined.

Abstract

Gee-Haw Whammy Diddle is a seemingly simple mechanical toy consisting of a wooden stick and a second stick that is made up of a series of notches with a propeller at its end. When the wooden stick is pulled over the notches, the propeller starts to rotate. In spite of its simplicity, physical principles governing the motion of the stick and the propeller are rather complicated and interesting. Here we provide a thorough analysis of the system and parameters influencing the motion. We show that contrary to the results published on this topic so far, neither elliptic motion of the stick nor frequency synchronization is needed for starting the motion of the propeller.