---
title: "A composite wheel consists of a uniform solid disk of mass \\(M\\) and radius \\(R\\) fixed concentrically inside a thin circular rim, also of mass \\(M\\) and radius \\(R\\). The wheel rolls without slipping along a horizontal surface such that its center of mass moves with a constant speed \\(v\\). Which of the following correctly pairs the ratio of the wheel’s rotational kinetic energy to its total kinetic energy, \\(\\dfrac{K_{\\text{rot}}}{K_{\\text{total}}}\\), with the component that contributes more to the wheel’s total kinetic energy?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124286/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T14:04:39+00:00"
---

# A composite wheel consists of a uniform solid disk of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\) fixed concentrically inside a thin circular rim, also of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\). The wheel rolls without slipping along a horizontal surface such that its center of mass moves with a constant speed \(v\). Which of the following correctly pairs the ratio of the wheel’s rotational kinetic energy to its total kinetic energy, \(\dfrac{K_{\text{rot}}}{K_{\text{total}}}\), with the component that contributes more to the wheel’s total kinetic energy?

A composite wheel consists of a uniform solid disk of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\) fixed concentrically inside a thin circular rim, also of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\). The wheel rolls without slipping along a horizontal surface such that its center of mass moves with a constant speed \(v\). Which of the following correctly pairs the ratio of the wheel's rotational kinetic energy to its total kinetic energy, \(\dfrac{K_{\text{rot}}}{K_{\text{total}}}\), with the component that contributes more to the wheel's total kinetic energy?

![A schematic shows a composite circular wheel resting on a flat horizontal line representing a surface. The wheel comprises a central solid disk shaded light gray and an outer concentric circular boundary shaded dark gray representing a thin rim. A solid dot marks the wheel's center of mass. A single dashed line segment extends radially from the center dot to the outer edge of the wheel, labeled \(R\). A single horizontal arrow originates at the center dot and points to the right, labeled \(v\). The inner light-gray region is labeled with text \(M\), and the outer dark-gray boundary is labeled with text \(M\). A curved arrow indicates clockwise rotation above the wheel. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1790604278-QCp81I.jpg)

- **A.** Ratio: \(\dfrac{3}{5}\) \quad | \quad Greater contributor: Central disk
- **B.** Ratio: \(\dfrac{3}{5}\) \quad | \quad Greater contributor: Thin rim
- **C.** Ratio: \(\dfrac{3}{7}\) \quad | \quad Greater contributor: Thin rim
- **D.** Ratio: \(\dfrac{3}{7}\) \quad | \quad Greater contributor: Central disk

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124286/*