News Physics

Hula-hooping robots reveal the physics behind keeping rings aloft

Gyrating objects should be hourglass-shaped to hold a hoop steady

A smiling child swings a pink Hula-Hoop around their waist.

Experiments with hula-hooping robots revealed how the hoops stay up, providing some tips for humans aiming to perfect their technique.

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

By Emily Conover

To keep a Hula-Hoop aloft, it helps to be in shape — literally.

Experiments with gyrating, hoop-slinging robots have revealed how these spinning rings stay up despite the pull of gravity. The shape of the robot’s body is a crucial factor, researchers report in the Jan.