Angular acceleration of a solid uniform cylinder

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the angular acceleration of a solid uniform cylinder when a string is pulled with a force tangent to its rim. It is established that if the radius of the cylinder is doubled while maintaining all other conditions, the angular acceleration will be 2*alpha. This conclusion arises from the relationship between torque, moment of inertia, and angular acceleration, confirming that the diameter's increase does not quadruple the angular acceleration as initially speculated.

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  • Knowledge of angular acceleration and its relationship to linear force
  • Basic principles of rotational dynamics
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fattydq
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String is wrapped around the outer rim of a solid uniform cylinder that is free to rotate about a frictionless axle through its center. When the string is pulled with a force P tangent to the rim it gives the cylinder an angular acceleration alpha. If the cylinder had twice the radius, but everything else was the same, the angular acceleration would be
A) 4*alpha
B) 2*alpha
C) alpha/2
D) alpha/4

Wouldn't it be 4 times, since the diameter is now four times as large?
 
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If the radius is doubled, the diameter is also doubled, not quadrupled.
 
Oh right, haha. So would it just be 2*alpha or is this a trick question?
 

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