Kinetic Energy on Incline Objects: Cylinder, Sphere, Hoop, All Same?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the kinetic energy of different objects (cylinder, sphere, hoop) rolling down an incline, as well as the conservation of momentum in a cannon-ball system. Participants are exploring the relationships between mass, radius, rotational kinetic energy, and translational kinetic energy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning how different shapes can have the same kinetic energy despite differences in rotational kinetic energy. There is also a discussion on the conservation of momentum and the implications of firing a cannon.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering insights into the conservation of energy and momentum. Some guidance has been provided regarding the relationship between height and kinetic energy, as well as the nature of momentum as a vector quantity. Multiple interpretations of the problems are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating assumptions about energy conservation and momentum in the context of their homework problems. There are indications of confusion regarding the implications of rotational versus translational kinetic energy and the definitions of momentum in different scenarios.

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Which on the following objects has the least kinetic energy at the bottom of the incline if they have the same mass and radius:
A) cylinder
B) sphere
C) hoop
D) all have the same

I piced B but the answer is D. My question is, the sphere has the least rotational kinetic energy, which means it will roll slowly, making it's kinetic energy less than the hoop or cylinder. I don't understand how they can all have the same kinetic energy when the hoop has a greater rotational kinetic energy.

When a ball is fired from a cannon wth a mass much greater than that of the ball, which of the following is true?

The answer is "The center of mass of the system remains unchanged." I picked "The ball and the cannon have equal momentum after the ball is fired"
I picked this because if the cannon and ball represents an elastic collision. I don't see why my answer isn't valid.
 
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The first answer is D because the center of mass of each shape dropped the same heighth, so each acquired the same amount of kinetic energy.

Technically, the cannon and the ball don't have the same momentum. Momentum is a vector. But as long as you understand that the center of mass does remain the same you aren't too far wrong. And yes if the cannon and ball conserve momentum, neglecting the gunpowder/gases of course.
 
for #1, how can one object gain more velocity than the other while keeping the energy balanced?

for #2, when the cannon fires the ball, the cannon repels backwards keeping the same momentum that it gave the ball. If this was false and momentum was not conserved, then I don't see how the center of mass can be conserved.
 
#1 Conservation of Energy. Energy acquired from g*m*delta h = rotational + translational kinetic energy.

#2 The "momentum of cannon and ball are equal" is a trick answer. The magnitudes are equal, yes. But momentum is a vector, and two vectors aren't equal unless both magnitude and direction are equal. These are opposite. So the aren't equal.

The CoM is conserved.
 

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