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Rotation of a Rigid Body

Rotation of a Rigid Body

1. A wheel is rotating at the rate of 50 rev/min in the anti clockwise direction What should be
the magnitude and direction of the angular acceleration of the wheel so that it stops in 8 s?
How many revolutions will it cover before stopping?
Solution:
Let

initial angular velocity

=
Hence angular acceleration of

must be imparted to the clock in the clock-wise

direction.
Angular displacement of

is given as:

Number of accelerations

revolutions anti clockwise

Hence it completes (3+1/3) revolutions before stopping.

2. A flywheel of radius 30 cm starts from rest and accelerates with constant acceleration of

compute the tangential, radial and resultant accelerations of a point on its

circumference:
(a) Initially at
(b) After it has made one third of a revolution.

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

Solution:
(a) At the start:

3. A wheel mounted on a stationery axle starts at rest and is given the following angular
acceleration:
where t is the time begins to rotate. Find the number of revolutions that the wheel turns
before it stops (and begins to turn in the opposite direction).
Solution:
The kinematic equations do not apply because the angular acceleration

is not

constant.

We start with the basic definition:

(in SI units)

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

We find the elapsed time t between

Solving for t, we obtain

4. Find the moment of inertia of a circular disk or solid cylinder of radius R about the axis
through the corner and perpendicular to the flat surface.
Solution:
The figure shows that the appropriate mass element is a
circular ring of radius r and width dr.
Its area is

The moment of inertia of this element is:

For the whole body,

The mass of the whole disk or cylinder is M

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

5. Find the moment of inertia of a uniform solid sphere of mass M and radius R about a
diameter.
Solution:
The sphere may be divided into disks perpendicular to the given axis, as
shown in fig. the disk at a distance x from the center of the sphere has a

radius
If

and a thickness dx.

is the volume mass density (mass per unit volume), the mass of this

elemental disk is

From the last example, the moment of inertia of this elemental disk is

The total moment of inertia is

The total mass of the sphere is M =

so the moment of inertia may be

written as:

6. A grind stone is in the form of a solid cylinder has a radius of 0.5 m and a mass 50 kg.
(a) What torque will bring it from rest to an angular velocity of 300 rev/min in 10 s?

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

(b) What is the kinetic energy when it is rotating at 300 rev/min?

Solution:

Torque required

(b) Kinetic energy of a rotating body (RKE):

(

R K E = 3084 J
7. Calculate the torque developed by an airplane engine whose output is 2000 hp at an angular
velocity of 2400 rev/min.
Solution:

Work done by torque

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

8. In the given figure, calculate the linear acceleration of the blocks.
Mass of block A = 10 kg
Mass of block B= 8 kg
Mass of disc shaped pulley= 2 kg

Solution:
Let R be the radius of the pulley and

be the tensions in the left and right

portions of the string.

Let a be the acceleration of blocks.

For the blocks (linear motion)

For the pulley (rotation)

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

The linear acceleration of blocks is same as the tangential acceleration of any point on the
circumference of the pulley which is

Dividing (iii) by R and adding to (i) and (ii),

9. A uniform rod of length L and mass m is pivoted freely at one end.

(a) What is the angular acceleration of the rod when it is at angle

to the vertical?

(b) What is the tangential linear acceleration of the free end when the rod is horizontal? The
moment of inertia of a rod about one end is
Solution:

The figure shows the rod at an angle

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

If we take torques about the pivot we need not be concerned with the force due to the
pivot.

The torque due to the weight is

, so the second law for the rotational motion

is

When the rod is horizontal

The tangential liner acceleration of the free end is

10.A rigid body of radius of gyration K and radius R rolls (without slipping) down a
plane inclined at an angle

with horizontal. Calculate its acceleration and the frictional

force acting on it.

Solution:
When the body is placed on the inclined plane, it tries to slip down and hence a static
friction f acts upwards. This friction provides a torque which causes the body to rotate.
Let a be the linear acceleration of center of mass and

b the angular acceleration of the

body.

For rotation around the axis through center of mass

As there is no slipping, the point of contact of the body with plane is instantaneously at
rest.
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Rotation of a Rigid Body

Solve the following three equations for a and f:

We cal also derive the condition for pure rolling. (rolling without slipping)

This is the condition on

so that the body rolls without slipping.

11. A solid cylinder rolls down an inclined plane of height h and inclination

calculate its

speed at the bottom a, the plane using acceleration-method and energy-method. Also calculate
the time taken to reach bottom.
Solution:
Energy Method:
Let v,

be the velocity of center of mass and the angular velocity

of cylinder respectively at the bottom of the plane.

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

As the cylinder rolls down:
Loss in G.P.E= gain in translation KE+ gain in rotational KE

As the cylinder is rolling without slipping

Acceleration Method:
From the result of last example

Acceleration of the cylinder is;

Using

as down the plane (taking downward direction positive)

Time to reach bottom = t

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

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12. A solid cylinder of mass m = 4 kg and radius R= 10 cm has two ropes wrapped around it,
one near each end. The cylinder is held horizontally by fixing the two free ends of the cords to
the hooks on the ceiling such that both the cords are exactly vertical. The cylinder is released to
fall under gravity. Find the tension in the cords when they unwina and the linear acceleration
of the cylinder.
Solution:
Let a = linear acceleration and
angular acceleration of the cylinder.
For the linear motion of the cylinder:

For the rotational motion:

Also, the linear acceleration of cylinder is same as the tangential acceleration of any point on its
surface.

Combining the three equations we get:

13. The end A of the rod AB is being pulled on the floor with a constant velocity

as shown.

Taking the length of the rod as , Calculate:

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

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(a) The velocity of end B

(b) The angular velocity of the rod
(c) The velocity of the CM of the rod at the instant when
Solution:

(a) Differentiate

with respect to time

with respect to time

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

14. Consider the arrangements shown in figure. The string is

wrapped around a uniform cylinder which rolls without slipping. The
other end of the string is passed over a massless, frictionless pulley
to a falling weight. Determine the acceleration of the falling mass m
in terms of only the mass of the cylinder M, the mass m and g.
Solution:
Let T be the tension in the string and f be the force of (static) friction between the cylinder and
the surface.
A= downward acceleration of block m
A=acceleration of the CM of cylinder towards right
angular acceleration of cylinder (clockwise)

Taking torque about the CM,

The string attaches the mass m to the highest point of the cylinder.

We also have: (for rolling without slipping)

Multiply (i) by r, (iii) by 2r and add to (ii)

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

The acceleration of falling mass m is:

15. A rectangular rigid fixed black has a long horizontal edge. A

solid homogenous cylinder of radius R is placed horizontally at rest
with its length parallel to the edge such that the axis of the cylinder
and the edge of the block are in the same vertical plane as shown in
figure. There is sufficient friction present at the edge so that a very
small displacement causes the cylinder to roll off the edge without slipping. Determine:
(a) The angle of

through which the cylinder rotates before it leaves contact with the

edge.
(b) The speed of the center of mass of the cylinder before leaving contact with the edge,
and
(c) The ratio of the transitional and rotational kinetic energy of the cylinder when its
center of mass is in horizontal line with the edge.
Solution:
As the cylinder rotates about the edge, its CM moves along a circular
arc of radius r centered at the edge. Let N be the normal reaction
from edge at the instant when cylinder has rotated through the an
angle

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

At jump off point, N=0

We can also apply conservative of mechanical energy as there is no slipping. The gravitational
potential energy decreases and hence the kinetic energy increases.

Combine all the three equations to get:

(c)
The rotational kinetic energy (

) becomes constant after the cylinder leaves the edge.

The kinetic energy at the instant when CM is in horizontal line with edge is K.
K= loss in GPE from initial position= mgr

16. A solid sphere of radius r and mass m rolls without slipping down the track shown in the
figure. At the end of its run at point Q its center of mass velocity is directed upward.
Solution:
From A to B
Loss in GPE = gain in KE
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Rotation of a Rigid Body

For rolling without slipping on a fixed surface

The CM follows a circular path of radius R-r

At B, net force towards center
=

From Q to P, w does not change because about CM torque in zero in air.

Gain in GPE= loss in KE

17. The descending pulley (disc shaped) shown in figure have a radius 20 cm and
moment of inertia

the fixed pulley is light and the horizontal plane

frictionless. Find the acceleration of the block if its mass is 1.0 kg.
Solution:
Let

be tension in the strings to the left and

right of the pulley.

a= acceleration of block towards right

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

A= acceleration of CM of pulley downward

angular acceleration of pulley (anticlock wise)

Taking torque about CM of the pulley

The string attaches the mass m to the left point of the cylinder.

We also have: (for right part of the string)

Solving these equations for a, we get:

18. In the arrangement shown in figure a weight A possess mass m, a pulley B possesses mass
M. also known are the moment of inertia I of the pulley to its axis and the radii of the pulley R
and 2R. The mass of the threads is negligible. Find the acceleration of the weight a after the
system is set free.
Solution:
tension in string attached to ceiling
tension in string attached to block
acceleration of CM of spool downward

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18

Rotation of a Rigid Body

Taking torque about CM,

For the string winding over, bigger part of the spool

And for the string winding over the smaller parts of spool

Solving these five equations for a, we get:

19. A gridstone 1m is diameter, of mass 50 kg, is rotating at 900 rev/min. A tool is

pressed normally against the rim with a force of 200 N, and the gridstone comes to rest
in 10 seconds. Find the coefficient of friction between the tool and the gridstone. Neglect
the friction in the bearings.
Solution:
Let

coefficient friction between the tool and the grid

stone.
Initial angular velocity

Final angular velocity

Taking torque about CM

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

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20. A carpet of mass m made of an inextensible material is rolled along the its length in the
form of a cylinder of radius R and is kept on a length on a rough floor. The carpet starts
unrolling without sliding on the floor when a negligibly small push is given to it. Calculate the
horizontal velocity of the axis of the cylindrical part of the carpet when its radius reduces to
R/2.
Solution:
As radius is reduced to R/2, mass of rolling part
reduces to M/4
Loss in GPE = gain in KE
( )
I= moment of inertia of rolling part
( )( )
For rolling without slipping

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

Solving this equation, we get:

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

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Rotation of a Rigid Body

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