Quick Answer: The Watt’s Regulator is a model of a centrifugal governor for showing automatic speed control by centrifugal force. As speed rises the governor balls swing outward and lift the sleeve, and as it falls they move in and the sleeve drops.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Rotating spindle carrying governor balls on arms
Sleeve that rises and falls with the position of the balls
Base for setting on a laboratory table
Also known as a Watt governor or centrifugal governor apparatus
About This Product
Students run the regulator from slow to faster speeds and watch the balls move outward and the sleeve climb, then reverse it to see the opposite. This links centrifugal force and angular velocity to the way governors regulate the speed of engines and other rotating machines. Hands, clothing and wires must be kept away from the moving parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the governor balls as speed increases?
They move outward because of centrifugal force, and the sleeve moves upward; when speed falls the balls move inward and the sleeve moves down.
