Increasing speed by decreasing intertia?

In summary, two horizontal disks stacked on one another are spinning at a constant velocity around a frictionless axis. If the top disk is instantaneously removed, the bottom disk will not spin faster. Each disk has its own velocity, momentum, and inertia, and removing one does not affect the other. It is possible for the top disk to slow down and the bottom one to speed up if the mechanism separating them is designed correctly.
  • #1
Allen Dowe
4
0
Just curious, explanation if youre going to answer please!

2 horizontal disks stacked on one another spinning at constant v, (about a frictionless axis perpendicular to their center), both have mass.

Okay, so let's say its possible to instantaneously remove the top disk. So would that make the other spin faster?
 
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  • #2
It would not. Each disk has its own velocity, momentum, inertia, etc. Removing one does not change the other. We don't even need to magically remove one of the disks. We can just assume there is some mechanism that pushes the top disk off of the bottom disk and off of the axle connecting the two.
 
  • #3
+1.

It would be possible for the top disc to slow down and the bottom one to speed up if the mechanism that separates them was correctly designed.
 

What is inertia?

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist any change in its state of motion. It is directly related to an object's mass, with more massive objects having greater inertia.

How can decreasing inertia increase speed?

Decreasing inertia can increase speed by reducing the resistance an object has to changes in its motion. This means that less energy is needed to overcome inertia and accelerate the object, resulting in a faster speed.

What are some ways to decrease inertia?

There are a few ways to decrease inertia, including reducing the mass of the object, using lubricants or other substances to reduce friction, and applying force in the direction of motion to overcome inertia.

What are the potential benefits of decreasing inertia to increase speed?

Decreasing inertia to increase speed can have various benefits, such as improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. It can also lead to faster and more efficient movement in machines and vehicles, allowing them to perform better.

Are there any drawbacks to decreasing inertia?

There can be some potential drawbacks to decreasing inertia, such as reducing stability and control of an object. Additionally, decreasing inertia may require specialized equipment or techniques, which can be costly or difficult to implement.

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