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To solve this problem, we need to consider the moment of inertia for each sphere and how it affects rotational acceleration under the same torque.
The moment of inertia \( I \) is a measure of an object’s resistance to changes in its rotation rate. It depends on the mass distribution relative to the axis of rotation. The torque \(\tau\) and moment of inertia are related to angular acceleration \(\alpha\) by the equation:
\[\tau = I \alpha\]
The moment of inertia for different shapes is given by:
– Solid sphere: \( I_{\text{solid}} = \frac{2}{5} m r^2 \)
– Hollow sphere (thin shell): \( I_{\text{hollow}} = \frac{2}{3} m r^2 \)
Here, \( m \) is the mass and \( r \) is the radius, both of which are equal for the two spheres.
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \(\tau = I_{\text{solid}} \alpha_{\text{solid}}\) | Apply the torque equation for the solid sphere. |
| 2 | \(\tau = \frac{2}{5} m r^2 \alpha_{\text{solid}}\) | Substitute the moment of inertia for a solid sphere. |
| 3 | \(\alpha_{\text{solid}} = \frac{5 \tau}{2 m r^2}\) | Solve for the angular acceleration of the solid sphere. |
| 4 | \(\tau = I_{\text{hollow}} \alpha_{\text{hollow}}\) | Apply the torque equation for the hollow sphere. |
| 5 | \(\tau = \frac{2}{3} m r^2 \alpha_{\text{hollow}}\) | Substitute the moment of inertia for a hollow sphere. |
| 6 | \(\alpha_{\text{hollow}} = \frac{3 \tau}{2 m r^2}\) | Solve for the angular acceleration of the hollow sphere. |
| 7 | Compare: \(\alpha_{\text{solid}} = \frac{5 \tau}{2 m r^2} > \alpha_{\text{hollow}} = \frac{3 \tau}{2 m r^2}\) | The solid sphere has a greater angular acceleration because its moment of inertia is lower. |
Answer: (a) Solid sphere
The solid sphere rotates faster because its moment of inertia is less than that of the hollow sphere, leading to a greater angular acceleration under the same torque.
Just ask: "Help me solve this problem."
A student is asked to design an experiment to determine the change in angular momentum of a disk that rotates about its center and the product of the average torque applied to the disk and the time interval in which the torque is exerted. A net force is applied tangentially to the surface of the disk. The rotational inertia of the disk about its center is [katex]I = MR^2[/katex]. Which two of the following quantities should the student measure to determine the change in angular momentum of the disk after 10 s? Select two answers.
What is the rotational inertia \( I \) of a disk with a radius \( R = 4 \) \( \text{m} \) and a mass \( 2 \) \( \text{kg} \)? The same disk is rotated around an axis that is \( 0.5 \) \( \text{m} \) from the center of the disk. What is the new rotational inertia \( I \) of the disk? What would the rotational inertia be if the disk axis was \( 3.75 \) \( \text{m} \) from the center?
Consider a rigid body that is rotating. Which of the following is an accurate statement?

In lacrosse, a typical throw is made by rotating the stick through an angle of roughly \(90^\circ\), then releasing the ball when the stick is vertical, as shown above. If the \(1 \, \text{meter}\) long stick is at rest when horizontal and the ball leaves the stick with a velocity of \(10 \, \text{m/s}\), what angular acceleration must the stick experience?
A windmill blade with a rotational inertia of \( 6.0 \) \( \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \) has an initial angular velocity of \( 8 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) in the clockwise direction. It is then given an angular acceleration of \( 4 \) \( \text{rad/s}^2 \) in the clockwise direction for \( 10 \) seconds. What is the change in rotational kinetic energy of the blade over this time interval?
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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] |
General Metric Conversion Chart
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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