As the star’s radius decreases, its moment of inertia decreases proportionally. To conserve angular momentum, the angular velocity must increase, as shown in the graph.
Therefore, \(L\) will be the same as before the collapse.
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[\tau_{\text{ext}} = \frac{\Delta L}{\Delta t}\] | The change in angular momentum depends on the net external torque. If the net external torque is zero, then \(\Delta L = 0\) and angular momentum is conserved. |
| 2 | \[\tau_{\text{ext}} = 0 \;\Rightarrow\; \Delta L = 0 \;\Rightarrow\; L_f = L_i\] | The star is described as isolated, so there is no net external torque acting on it. Internal gravitational forces cannot change the total angular momentum of the star (they are internal forces). |
| 3 | \[L = I\omega\] | Angular momentum of a rotating rigid body (or effectively symmetric rotating object) is the product of its moment of inertia and angular velocity about the rotation axis. |
| 4 | \[I \propto MR^2\] | For a spherical mass distribution, the moment of inertia scales with mass times radius squared. The mass \(M\) stays constant, while the radius decreases from \(R_o\) to \(r_o\), so \(I\) decreases. |
| 5 | \[L_i = I_i\omega_o,\quad L_f = I_f\omega_f\] | Write initial and final angular momentum in terms of initial and final \(I\) and \(\omega\). |
| 6 | \[L_f = L_i \Rightarrow I_f\omega_f = I_i\omega_o\] | Use conservation of angular momentum from Step 2. As \(I_f < I_i\), the angular velocity must increase (consistent with the graph), but the product \(I\omega\) stays the same. |
| 7 | \[\boxed{L_f = L_i}\] | Therefore, the angular momentum immediately after collapse is unchanged in magnitude and direction (no external torque to reverse it). |
| 8 | \[\text{(a)}\;L_f > L_i\quad \text{(b)}\;L_f < L_i\quad \text{(c)}\;L_f = L_i\quad \text{(d)}\;\vec{L}_f = -\vec{L}_i\] | Eliminate incorrect choices: (a) and (b) would require a nonzero external torque to change total \(L\). (d) would require a torque impulse that reverses the rotation direction; the graph shows \(\omega\) increasing (not changing sign), and isolation implies no external torque to flip \(\vec{L}\). |
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The angular velocity of a rotating disk of radius \(20 \, \text{cm}\) increases from \(1 \, \text{rad/s}\) to \(3 \, \text{rad/s}\) in \(0.5 \, \text{s}\). What is the linear tangential acceleration of a point on the rim of the disk during this time interval?
A \(5\)-meter long ladder is leaning against a wall, with the bottom of the ladder \(3\) meters from the wall. The ladder is uniform and has a mass of \(20 \, \text{kg}\). A person of mass \(80 \, \text{kg}\) is standing on the ladder at a distance of \(4\) meters from the bottom of the ladder. What is the force exerted by the wall on the ladder?
An old record player could bring a disk up to its \(45\) RPM speed in less than a second. If the same size disk can also be brought up to a speed of \(75\) RPM in about the same amount of time on another player. Compare the torques exerted by each record player.
A disk increases from 2 complete revolutions in 2 seconds to 5 complete revolutions in 2 seconds. What is its average angular acceleration?

A meter stick with a uniformly distributed mass of \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\) is supported by a pivot placed at the \(0.25 \, \text{m}\) mark from the left. At the left end, a small object of mass \(1.0 \, \text{kg}\) is placed at the zero mark, and a second small object of mass \(0.5 \, \text{kg}\) is placed at the \(0.5 \, \text{m}\) mark. The meter stick is supported so that it remains horizontal, and then it is released from rest. Find the change in the angular momentum of the meter stick, one second after it is released.
A horizontal uniform rod of length L and mass M is pivoted at one end and is initially at rest. A small ball of mass M (same masses) is attached to the other end of the rod. The system is released from rest. What is the angular acceleration of the rod just immediately after the system is released?
Two uniform solid balls, one of radius \( R \) and mass \( M \), the other of radius \( 2R \) and mass \( 8M \), roll down a high incline. They start together from rest at the top of the incline. Which one will reach the bottom of the incline first?
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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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