Angular Momentum Problem: Rotation Rate

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the moment of inertia and rotation rate for an object rotating about the z-axis. The moment of inertia was calculated as I=125.046, but the derived rotation rate of 30.173 does not match the expected answer of 21.263. Participants clarify that the distances from the z-axis must be determined using the Pythagorean theorem applied to the i and j coordinates. There is a misunderstanding regarding the role of the k unit vector, which indicates direction along the z-axis rather than distance from it. Accurate calculations require proper identification of distances from the z-axis to resolve the discrepancy in the rotation rate.
JoeyBob
Messages
256
Reaction score
29
Homework Statement
See attached
Relevant Equations
L=rotation rate*I
First I found the moment of inertia,

I=1.8(5.5^2+3.9^2+4.9^2)

=125.046

Then I tried to find the rotation rate using the equation L=rotation rate*I

rotation rate=3773/125.046=30.173

But the answer is suppose to be 21.263?
 

Attachments

  • Question.PNG
    Question.PNG
    15.8 KB · Views: 165
Physics news on Phys.org
JoeyBob said:
First I found the moment of inertia,

I=1.8(5.5^2+3.9^2+4.9^2)
No. The rotation is about the z (k) axis. What are the distances from that axis?
 
haruspex said:
No. The rotation is about the z (k) axis. What are the distances from that axis?

Doesn't k hat represent how far something is from the z axis?
 
JoeyBob said:
Doesn't k hat represent how far something is from the z axis?
No, it is how far it is along the z axis. And you mean the coefficient of ##\hat k##. ##\hat k## is the direction of the z axis.
 
  • Like
Likes Steve4Physics and JoeyBob
You have to use pythagorean theorem on the i and j coordinates to find the distance from the z-axis.
 
  • Like
Likes JoeyBob
haruspex said:
No, it is how far it is along the z axis. And you mean the coefficient of ##\hat k##. ##\hat k## is the direction of the z axis.
Delta2 said:
You have to use pythagorean theorem on the i and j coordinates to find the distance from the z-axis.
Yes.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
67
Views
4K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
870
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
1K
Replies
17
Views
2K
Replies
335
Views
16K
Replies
26
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
527