Angular velocity and angular momentum

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a turntable with a specified radius and moment of inertia, rotating with a given angular velocity. A small ball is projected towards the turntable and caught by a mechanism on the rim. The main question is to determine the angular velocity of the turntable after the ball is caught, considering the conservation of angular momentum.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the conservation of angular momentum by equating initial and final angular momentum, questioning the assumption that the angular velocity of the ball after being caught matches that of the turntable.
  • Another participant suggests using the moment of inertia of the ball as a point particle and provides an equation relating initial and final angular momentum, while also questioning the original poster's calculations.
  • Further discussion includes verifying the correctness of the calculations and the assumptions made regarding the moments of inertia.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem and checking the assumptions made regarding the moments of inertia. Some guidance has been offered regarding the treatment of the ball's moment of inertia, but there is no explicit consensus on the final answer yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of correctly applying the moment of inertia for the ball and ensuring the calculations align with the principles of angular momentum conservation. There is also mention of specific answer choices that may guide the discussion.

Northbysouth
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Homework Statement



A turntable has a radius of 0.80 m and a moment of inertia of 2.00 kg • m2. The turntable is rotating with an angular velocity of 1.50 rad/s about a vertical axis though its center on frictionless bearings. A very small 0.40-kg ball is projected horizontally toward the turntable axis with a velocity of 3.00 m/s and is moving directly towards the center of the table. The ball is caught by a very small and very light cup-shaped mechanism on the rim of the turntable (see figure). What is the angular velocity of the turntable just after the ball is caught

Homework Equations


L= Iw
The inertia of the turntable = 2.0 kgm^2
The inertia of a solid sphere = 2/5*M*R^2
Li = initial angular momentum
Lf = final angular momentum (momentum after the ball is caught)
Lid = initial angular momentum of the disc
Lip = initial angular momentum of the particle
Lfd = final angular momentum of the disc
Lfp = final angular momentum of the particle
wft = angular velocity of the turntable after the ball is caught

The Attempt at a Solution


I assumed that Li = Lf

Li = Lid + Lip

Li = 2.0kg*1.50 rad/s + 0
Li = 3.50 kgm^2

Similarly, I thought that:
Lf = Lfd + Lfp
Lf = 2.0kgm^2/s*wft + 2/5*0.4kg*0.80^2*wft

3.50kgm^2/s = 2.1024wft
wft = 1.66476 kgm^2/s

As you can see this isn't an answer choice. Is it wrong for me to assume that the angular velocity of the particle after it is caught is the same as that of the turntables angular velocity?
 

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I'm not too sure if I'm right, but hopefully this is one of the answer choices.

After the collision, the ball and the turntable should be turning together.

Ii*Wi=If*Wf

You can just add up the moments of inertia, so:

If=Turntable Moment + Ball Moment
The ball is small enough that we can treat it like a point particle (I see that you multiplied by 2/5, but that only works whenever the axis of rotation is through the diameter of the sphere, in this case the axis of rotation is a radius r from the ball), so ball moment=m*r^2

2.00*1.5=(2.00+0.4*0.8^2)*Wf
Wf=3/(2.256)
Wf=1.33

Please let me know if that's an answer.
 
Yes that is an answer. Thank you

The choices, which I forget to put in my original post are:

A) 1.33 rad/s
B) 0.75 rad/s
C) 0.30 rad/s
D) 0.50rad/s
E) 0.94 rad/s
 
Alright cool.

It looks like you just accidentally multiplied 2*1.5 incorrectly, and used the wrong moment of inertia for the ball.
 

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