Note: You don’t need the exact moment of inertia formulas to reason this out. Just remember — the more mass an object has distributed farther from the axis of rotation (the hollow sphere), the greater its moment of inertia, and therefore the more rotational kinetic energy it carries for a given angular speed.
| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[K_{\text{rot}} = \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2\] | This is the rotational kinetic energy formula, where \(I\) is the moment of inertia and \(\omega\) is the constant angular velocity for both spheres. |
| 2 | \[I_{\text{solid}} = \frac{2}{5}MR^2\] | This represents the moment of inertia for a solid sphere rotating about an axis through its center. |
| 3 | \[I_{\text{hollow}} = \frac{2}{3}MR^2\] | This represents the moment of inertia for a hollow sphere (thin spherical shell) rotating about an axis through its center. Note that more mass is distributed away from the center. |
| 4 | \[K_{\text{rot,solid}} = \frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{2}{5}MR^2\right)\omega^2\quad \text{and}\quad K_{\text{rot,hollow}} = \frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{2}{3}MR^2\right)\omega^2\] | Substitute each sphere’s moment of inertia into the kinetic energy formula. |
| 5 | \[K_{\text{rot,solid}} = \frac{1}{5}MR^2\omega^2\quad \text{and}\quad K_{\text{rot,hollow}} = \frac{1}{3}MR^2\omega^2\] | Simplify each expression to clearly compare them. |
| 6 | \[\frac{1}{3}MR^2\omega^2 > \frac{1}{5}MR^2\omega^2\] | Because \(\frac{1}{3}\) is greater than \(\frac{1}{5}\), the hollow sphere has a higher rotational kinetic energy under the same conditions. |
| 7 | \[\boxed{K_{\text{rot,hollow}} > K_{\text{rot,solid}}}\] | This final statement concludes that the hollow sphere has greater rotational kinetic energy. |
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A system consists of two small disks, of masses \( m \) and \( 2m \), attached to a rod of negligible mass of length \( 3l \) as shown above. The rod is free to turn about a vertical axis through point \( P \). The two disks rest on a rough horizontal surface; the coefficient of friction between the disks and the surface is \( \mu \). At time \( t = 0 \), the rod has an initial counterclockwise angular velocity \( \omega_0 \) about \( P \). The system is gradually brought to rest by friction. Develop expressions for the following quantities in terms of \( \mu \), \( m \), \( l \), \( g \), and \( \omega_0 \).
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?
\( \text{Solid sphere: } I = \frac{2}{5}mR^2, \quad \text{Solid disk: } I = \frac{1}{2}mR^2, \quad \text{Hoop: } I = mR^2 \)
When a fan is turned off, its angular speed decreases from \( 10 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) to \( 6.3 \) \( \text{rad/s} \) in \( 5.0 \) \( \text{s} \). What is the magnitude of the average angular acceleration of the fan?
Young David experimented with slings before tackling Goliath. He found that he could develop an angular speed of \( 8.0 \) \( \text{rev/s} \) in a sling \( 0.60 \) \( \text{m} \) long. If he increased the length to \( 0.90 \) \( \text{m} \), he could revolve the sling only \( 6.0 \) times per second.
A motorcycle has tires with a diameter of \( 44.0 \) \( \text{cm} \). Cruising down the highway, they are rotating at \( 1150 \) \( \text{rpm} \) (revolutions per minute).
When is the angular momentum of a system constant?
Two spheres of equal size and equal mass are rotated with an equal amount of torque. One of the spheres is solid with its mass evenly distributed throughout its volume, and the other is hollow with all of its mass concentrated at the edges. Which sphere would rotate faster if the same amount of torque is applied for the same period of time for both?
A uniform rod of length \( L \) is pivoted at one end \(45^{\circ}\) below the horizontal and released from rest. The rod swings freely downward. Which of the following best describes the angular acceleration of the rod as it swings from the initial position to the vertical position?
A uniform solid cylinder of mass \( M \) and radius \( R \) is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. A massless string is attached to the cylinder and is wrapped around it. The string is then pulled with a constant force \( F \) , causing the cylinder to rotate about its center of mass. After the cylinder has rotated through an angle \( \theta \), what is the kinetic energy of the cylinder in terms of \( F \) and \( \theta \)?
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 \(I = MR^2\). 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.
\(\boxed{K_{\text{rot,hollow}} > K_{\text{rot,solid}}}\)
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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] | |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] |
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