| Step | Derivation or Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[ mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv_x^2 + \frac{1}{2}I\left(\frac{v_x}{R}\right)^2 \] | Apply energy conservation for rolling without slipping. The gravitational potential energy \(mgh\) converts to translational kinetic energy \(\frac{1}{2}mv_x^2\) and rotational kinetic energy \(\frac{1}{2}I\omega^2\) with the no-slip condition \(\omega=\frac{v_x}{R}\). |
| 2 | \[ mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv_x^2\left(1+\frac{I}{mR^2}\right) \] | Substitute \(\omega=\frac{v_x}{R}\) and factor out \(\frac{1}{2}mv_x^2\) to combine the terms into a single expression. |
| 3 | \[ v_x^2 = \frac{2gh}{1+\frac{I}{mR^2}} \] | Solve for the translational speed \(v_x\) in terms of the moment of inertia factor \(\frac{I}{mR^2}\). |
| 4 | \[ \text{For a solid sphere: } \frac{I}{mR^2}=\frac{2}{5} \quad\Rightarrow\quad v_{x,\text{sphere}}^2=\frac{2gh}{1+\frac{2}{5}}=\frac{10gh}{7} \] | Substitute the moment of inertia for a solid sphere \(I=\frac{2}{5}mR^2\), leading to a higher translational speed. |
| 5 | \[ \text{For a solid cylinder: } \frac{I}{mR^2}=\frac{1}{2} \quad\Rightarrow\quad v_{x,\text{cylinder}}^2=\frac{2gh}{1+\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{4gh}{3} \] | Substitute the moment of inertia for a solid cylinder \(I=\frac{1}{2}mR^2\). Its greater inertia compared to the sphere reduces its translational speed. |
| 6 | \[ \text{For a hollow pipe: } \frac{I}{mR^2}=1 \quad\Rightarrow\quad v_{x,\text{pipe}}^2=\frac{2gh}{1+1}=gh \] | Substitute the moment of inertia for a hollow pipe \(I=mR^2\). The high inertia value further reduces the translational speed. |
| 7 | \[ \frac{10gh}{7} > \frac{4gh}{3} > gh \] | Compare the expressions for \(v_x^2\): The solid sphere has the largest value, so it reaches the bottom first. The cylinder and pipe are slower because more energy goes into rotation. |
| 8 | \[ \boxed{(a)\;\text{Sphere}} \] | The sphere reaches the bottom first. The cylinder and pipe are slower due to their higher moments of inertia; hence, they devote a larger portion of the energy to rotation. |
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In an experiment, an external torque is applied to the edge of a disk of radius \( 0.5 \) \( \text{m} \) such that the edge of the disk speeds up as it continues to rotate. The tangential speed as a function of time is shown for the edge of the disk. The rotational inertia of the disk is \( 0.125 \) \( \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \). Can a student use the graph and the known information to calculate the net torque exerted on the edge of the disk?
A construction worker spins a square sheet of metal of mass 0.040 kg with an angular acceleration of 10.0 rad/s2 on a vertical spindle (pin). What are the dimensions of the sheet if the net torque on the sheet is 1.00 N·m? Assume that the moment of inertia of a rectangle is \( I = \frac{1}{12}M(a^2+b^2) \)
Consider an object on a rotating disk at a distance \( r \) from its center, held in place on the disk by static friction. Which of the following statements is not true concerning this object?
An ice skater that is spinning in circles has an initial rotational inertia \(I_i\). You can approximate her shape to be a cylinder. She is spinning with velocity \(\omega_i\). As she extends her arms, her rotational inertia changes by a factor of \(x\) and her angular velocity changes by a factor of \(y\). Which one of the following options best describe \(x\) and \(y\)?

The figure shows a person’s foot. In that figure, the Achilles tendon exerts a force of magnitude F = 720 N. What is the magnitude of the torque that this force produces about the ankle joint?

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 net torque is applied to the edge of a spinning object as it rotates about its internal axis. The table shows the net torque exerted on the object at different instants in time. How can a student use the data table to determine the change in angular momentum of the object from \( 0 \) to \( 6 \) \( \text{s} \)? Justify your selection.
| Time \( (\text{s}) \) | Net Torque \( (\text{N} \cdot \text{m}) \) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 1.5 |
| 4 | 3.0 |
| 6 | 4.5 |
A \( 0.72 \) \( \text{m} \)-diameter solid sphere can be rotated about an axis through its center by a torque of \( 10.8 \) \( \text{Nm} \) which accelerates it uniformly from rest through a total of \( 160 \) revolutions in \( 15.0 \) \( \text{s} \). What is the mass of the sphere?
A 0.72-m-diameter solid sphere can be rotated about an axis through its center by a torque of 10.8 N·m which accelerates it uniformly from rest through a total of 160 revolutions in 15.0 s. What is the mass of the sphere?

The figure shows scale drawings of four objects, each of the same mass and uniform thickness, with the mass distributed uniformly. Which one has the greatest moment of inertia when rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing at point P?
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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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