Homework Help: Acceleration of center of mass

1. May 8, 2005

UrbanXrisis

A solid shere of mass M and radius R rolls without slipping down an inclined plane whose incline angle with the horizontal is 30 degrees. What is the acceleration of the sphere's center of mass?

gsinX is the acceleration, so it would be g/2 right?

2. May 8, 2005

Staff: Mentor

No. While $mg \sin \theta$ is the component of the ball's weight along the incline, it is not the only force acting on the ball.

3. May 8, 2005

whozum

A solid shere of mass M and radius R rolls without slipping down an inclined plane whose incline angle with the horizontal is 30 degrees.

4. May 8, 2005

UrbanXrisis

still not sure what you mean... so it doesnt slip, so what?

5. May 8, 2005

Staff: Mentor

Start by identifying all the forces acting on the sphere. (Hint: I count 3)

6. May 8, 2005

UrbanXrisis

force of friction, normal force, and force of gravity

7. May 8, 2005

Staff: Mentor

Right. To solve for the acceleration, you'll need to apply Newton's 2nd law for both translation and rotation.

8. May 8, 2005

HallsofIvy

The point of "rolling without slipping" is that the sphere makes on complete revolution while going a distance $2\pi R$