Tutorial 4

Question 1

Figure 1: Rod and spindle

A uniform disk rotates at 3.60 rev/s around a frictionless spindle. A non-rotating rod,
of the same mass as the disk and equal in length to the disks diameter, is dropped
onto the freely spinning disk as shown in Figure 1. The rod sticks to the disk and they
then turn around the spindle together with their centers superposed. What is the final
angular velocity (in rev/s) of the combination? [Ans: 2.16 rev/s]

Question 2

Dog

Figure 2: I have no idea what Im doing. Dog

A dog of mass m is standing on the edge of a stationary horizontal turntable of

rotational inertia I and radius R. The dog walks once around the circumference of the
turntable, as shown in the Figure 2. What fraction of a full circle does the dogs motion
make with respect to the ground? Express your answer in terms of m, I, and R. Ignore
friction at the axle of the turntable. [Ans: I/(I + mr2 )]

Question 3

v0
0

Figure 3: Rolling ball

Rolling Ball: A billiard ball is initially sliding on a table top with a horizontal
velocity v0 and an anti-clockwise angular speed 0 about its center of mass as shown
in Figure 3. The ball is a uniform sphere of radius R and mass M . The coefficient of
kinetic friction between the ball and the table is .
a) Write down the equations of motion of the center of mass and rotation about the
center of mass.
2
b) Hence show that if v0 < R0 , the ball is still rolling anti-clockwise when its
5
center of mass first comes to an instantaneous stop.
2
c) Describe qualitatively the subsequent motion of the ball if v0 < R0 .
5
d) Determine the time taken for the ball to start rolling without slipping. [Ans:
2(v0 + R0 )/7g]
Question 4
Plank and Rollers

Figure 4: Plank on two rollers

A plank with a mass M = 6.00 kg rides on top of two identical solid cylindrical
rollers that have radius R = 5.00 cm and mass m = 2.00 kg. The plank is pulled
by a constant horizontal force F of magnitude 6.00 N applied to the end of the plank
and perpendicular to the axes of the cylinders (which are parallel). The cylinders roll
without slipping on the flat surface. There is also no slipping between the cylinders
and the plank.
2

a) Find the acceleration of the plank and the rollers. [Ans: 0.8m/s2 , 0.4m/s2 ]
b) What static friction forces are acting? [Ans: 0.6 N, 0.2 N]
For Discussion in the Forum
Question 5
Moment of inertia: Calculate the moment of inertia of a uniform solid cone as shown
in Figure 5, about an axis through its center. The cone has mass M and height h. The
radius of its circular base is R. [Ans: I = 3M R2 /10]

Figure 5: A cone of height h and radius R.

Question 6
A solid cylinder of mass 1.00 kg and radius 1.41 m is rotating anti-clockwise in a uniform
V-groove with constant angular acceleration = 1.00 s2 , as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Rolling cylinder

The coefficient of kinetic friction between the cylinder and each surface is 0.500.
What torque must be applied to the cylinder to keep it rotating at constant ? [Ans:
8.87 Nm]

Question 7

Figure 7: Collision

A rigid massless rod of length L joins two particles each of mass M . The rod lies on
a frictionless table, and is struck by a particle of mass M and velocity v0 , moving as
shown in Figure 7. After the collision, the projectile moves straight back. Find the
angular velocity of the rod about its center of mass after the collision, assuming that

mechanical energy is conserved. [Ans: = 4 20 /7L]

Bonus Question

Wards

Persidium Ring

Figure 8: The Citadel, diagram from DeviantArt user Troodon80

Mass Effect The Citadel is an immense space station constructed by an extinct alien
race and is currently the home and commercial center of many alien species, including
humans. It consists of a large Persidium Ring, five Wards attached to it (see Figure 8).
To simulate gravity, the entire Citadel is rotating about an axis passing through the
center of the Ring. The radius of the Persidium Ring is RP , while the structure of the
wards of length L is at an angle from the axis. The ends of the wards near the ring
are located at a distance R0 from the axis of rotation, R0 > RP .

This question is based on the Mass Effect trilogy games, a science-fiction action RPG created and
written by C. Hudson, P. Watamaniuk and D. Karpyshyn (Bioware).

Ward
L

R0

Axis of rotation
Persidium Ring

RP

Figure 9: Approximating ward as a rod tilted by an angle with respect to the axis
of rotation. The left end of the rod is located R0 from the axis. The Persidium ring is
approximately a uniform ring of radius RP .

Approximate the ward as a rod tilted by an angle with respect to the axis of
rotation, and the Persidium as a uniform ring of radius RP (Figure 9).
a) What is the angular velocity required to simulate a gravity of 1.02g at the midpoint of the ward?
b) Let MP be the mass of the Persidium Ring, and MW the mass of a single Ward.
Show that the moment of inertia of the Citadel is


1 2 2
2
2
ICitadel = MP RP + 5MW
L sin + LR0 sin + R0 .
(1)
3
c) During an enemy attack, the Citadel can protect itself by closing itself, sealing
the inhabitants from the outside. In this configuration, the rods are now near the
ring R0 = RP (see Figure 10). Calculate the new value of centripetal acceleration
at the midpoint of the Ward.

Figure 10: The left end of the rod are now at the same radius as the ring, R0 = RP .