| Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| \[I_0 = \tfrac{1}{2} M R^{2}\] | Initial moment of inertia \(I_0\) for a solid cylinder with mass \(M\) and radius \(R\). |
| \[I_a = \tfrac{1}{2} M (2R)^{2} = 2 M R^{2}\] | Option (a): Doubling the radius while \(M\) is constant gives \(I_a = 4 I_0\); the increase is \(3 I_0\). |
| \[I_b = \tfrac{1}{2} (4M) R^{2} = 2 M R^{2}\] | Option (b): Quadrupling the mass while \(R\) is constant also yields \(I_b = 4 I_0\); the increase is \(3 I_0\). |
| \[I_c = \tfrac{1}{2} (2M) R^{2} = M R^{2}\] | Option (c): Doubling \(M\) only doubles the inertia, \(I_c = 2 I_0\); the increase is \(I_0\), therefore not the same. |
| \[I_d = \tfrac{1}{2} M (4R)^{2} = 8 M R^{2}\] | Option (d): Quadrupling \(R\) makes \(I_d = 16 I_0\); the increase is \(15 I_0\), therefore not the same. |
| \[\boxed{(a)\,\&\,(b)}\] | Both (a) and (b) increase the moment of inertia by exactly the same amount because they each produce a four-fold final value. Options (c) and (d) alter the inertia by different factors, so they are incorrect. |
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The moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its axis is given by \( 0.5MR^2 \). If this cylinder rolls without slipping, the ratio of its rotational kinetic energy to its translational kinetic energy is
An object’s angular momentum changes by \( 10 \,\text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{s} \) in \( 2.0 \) \( \text{s} \). What magnitude average torque acted on this object?
A rod of length \( L \) is rotated about its center with \( I = \frac{ML^{2}}{12} \). What is the moment of inertia at either end of the rod?
Which of the following must be zero if an object is spinning at a constant rate? There may be more than one right answer.
Four systems are in rotational motion. Which of the following combinations of rotational inertia and angular speed for each of the systems corresponds to the greatest rotational kinetic energy?
| System | Rotational Inertia | Angular Speed |
|---|---|---|
| A | \( I_0 \) | \( \omega_0 \) |
| B | \( I_0 \) | \( 4\, \omega_0 \) |
| C | \( 2 I_0 \) | \( 2\, \omega_0 \) |
| D | \( 6 I_0 \) | \( \omega_0 \) |
A disk, a hoop, and a solid sphere are released at the same time at the top of an inclined plane. They are all uniform and roll without slipping. In what order do they reach the bottom?
\( \text{Solid sphere: } I = \frac{2}{5}mR^2, \quad \text{Solid disk: } I = \frac{1}{2}mR^2, \quad \text{Hoop: } I = mR^2 \)
| Wagon | Wheel Structure | Moment of Inertia | Wheel Mass | Wheel Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagon \(A\) | Solid disk | \[\frac{1}{2} M R^2\] | \[ 0.5 \, \text{kg} \] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{m} \] |
| Wagon \(B\) | Solid disk | \[\frac{1}{2} M R^2\] | \[ 0.2 \, \text{kg} \] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{m} \] |
| Wagon \(C\) | Hollow hoop | \[M R^2\] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{kg} \] | \[ 0.1 \, \text{m} \] |
Three wagons have identical total mass (including their wheels) and each has four wheels. However, the wheels on each wagon have different designs with varying mass distributions and radii as shown in a reference chart. When accelerating each wagon from a standstill to \( 10 \) \( \text{m/s} \), which wagon requires the most energy input?
A solid metal bar is at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface. It is free to rotate about a vertical axis at the left end. The figures below show forces of different magnitudes that are exerted on the bar at different locations. In which case does the bar’s angular speed about the axis increase at the fastest rate?

The diagram above shows a top view of a child of mass \(M\) on a circular platform of mass \(2M\) that is rotating counterclockwise. Assume the platform rotates without friction. Which of the following describes an action by the child that will increase the angular speed of the platform-child system and gives the correct reason why?
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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