ROTATIONAL MECHANICS

Aditya Bhoj

RM-1

An axially symmetric body (e.g. a hoop, a cylinder, or a ball) of mass m, radius r, and moment of
inertia I has zero initial velocity and an initial angular velocity ω0. The body is placed at the base
of an incline, as shown on Figure 1. The coefficient of friction between the body and the incline
is k. The acceleration due to gravity is g.

1. For what values of k will the body go up?

2. Assume k is such that the body starts moving along the incline. What is the distance L1 the
body has moved until the slipping stops? What is the velocity of the body V1 at that instant?

ANSWER KEY RM-1

1- k ≥ tan α.
2-
RM – 2

The figure shows the operating principle of the device for measuring angular velocity. At the
point O there is a positive charge of magnitude Q. A light, insulating, thin tube with smooth walls
can rotate in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis passing through a point O There is also a
switch on the tube. A, the distance from the axis of rotation to it is equal to OA=L. A lightweight
insulating spring having a length L/4in a relaxed state, fixed at one end at a point O, and its
other end is connected to a small ball with mass m and positive charge q. Initially, the system is
in equilibrium. The tube begins to rotate around a fixed axis under the action of an external
torque, the ball can move freely along the tube. The angular velocity of the tube ω gradually
increases until the ball reaches the position A. The ball is balanced relative to the tube when the
switch is triggered. The external torque then instantly becomes zero and the charge at point O
changes to a negative of the same magnitude-Q. The angular velocity of rotation can be
determined by measuring the equilibrium position of the ball. B relative to the tube. Distance OB
turned out to be equal L/2.

Then find : Find the angular velocity of rotation of the tube ωB, when the ball is at the point B.

ANSWER KEY RM-2

As shown in the figure, a solid hemisphere of mass M and radius R lies on a smooth horizontal
surface. A homogeneous sphere of smaller radius rests on its top r mass m. At some point in time,
the sphere is slightly displaced from its equilibrium position and begins to roll down. Its position
is described by the angle θ between the vertical and the straight line connecting the centers of the
bodies. The coefficient of static and sliding friction between the sphere and the hemisphere is
equal to μ, the moment of inertia of the sphere relative to the axis of symmetry is equal to
2/5mr2, the acceleration of gravity is equal to g.

The sphere breaks away from the hemisphere at an angle value θ=θ3. Find the magnitude of the
speed v′C the center of the sphere relative to the hemisphere at this moment.

ANSWER KEY RM-3

As shown in the figure, a thin, rigid, uniform ring of radius r falls on a rough horizontal surface.
The ring rotates with an angular velocityω0 (its positive direction is shown in the figure by an
arrow) around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the ring, and the speed of its center of
massv0directed at an angle θ (π/2<θ<3π/2) to the vertical. Consider that the ring can only move
in the vertical plane in which it initially moves. Immediately before the rebound, the ring does
not slide along the ground, the coefficient of restitution upon collision of the ring with the
ground is equal to k, the acceleration of gravity is equal to g. Neglect air resistance.

Find the angular velocity of rotation of the ring ω and speed v its center of mass after collision
with the ground.

ANSWER KEY RM-4

A massless inextensible string of length D lies with one end fixed, while the other is attached to
one end of a uniform rod of length L. The system is initially at rest with the rod aligned along the
x-axis and the string stretched to its natural length at an angle with the negative y-axis θ (cos θ =
1/3). At a certain instant, a bullet of the same mass m as the rod and negligible dimensions is
fired horizontally along the positive y-direction. The bullet hits the rod at its right end with
velocity vo and gets lodged in it, the impact being nearly instantaneous. What is the tension (T)
in the string immediately after the impact? Assume the string doesn’t break.

ANSWER KEY RM-5

A zero-resistance loop of wire of radius R and cross-sectional area Aw carries a counterclockwise

If the electrons all have the same speed, what is the angular momentum of each electron?

ANSWER KEY RM-6

Note that the angular momentum points into the page, because the electrons have negative charge
RM-7*

θ
B A

A uniform solid sphere with mass M, radius R, and moment of inertia I = 2/5MR2 around its
center is initially rolling without slipping at center speed v on a horizontal surface. It then
encounters a ditch of width d such that sin θ = d/2R , as shown in the figure. For convenience
you may use θ and R to replace d in the following calculations. The initial speed v is smaller than
a value vmax such that when the sphere arrives at the near edge of the ditch at point-A, it falls off
while keeping in touch with point-A without slipping, until it hits the other edge at point-B.
Find the angular speed of the sphere right before it hits point-B ?
RM- 8*

A man with mass 0.5M is standing on a round table (disk shaped, uniform thickness) rotating at
angular speed ω . The mass of the table is 0.5M and the friction between the table and the ground
is negligible. The man carries with him 10 stones each with mass 0.01M. The radius of the table
is R and the man is standing at a distance r (< R) from the center of the table. Determine the
angular speed of the table after the man has thrown his first stone as a function of angle θ , and
find the optimum angle θ to slow down the table