Calculating New Rotation Period of a Star After Shrinking Diameter

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the new rotation period of a star after its diameter shrinks to 0.55 times its original size, while maintaining uniform mass distribution. The initial angular momentum equation is set up incorrectly, leading to an erroneous final period calculation of 158.1 days. A participant suggests using the conservation of angular momentum, equating initial and final angular momentum to derive the correct formula. By applying this method, they conclude that the new rotation period should be approximately 7.9 days. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly applying physical principles in rotational dynamics.
Hollywood
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
The mass of a star is 1.4 × 10^31 kg and it performs one rotation in 26.3 day. Find its new period if the diameter suddenly shrinks to 0.55 times its present size. Assume a uniform mass distribution before and after.

I don't know what I am doing wrong here:

Iw(intial)=Iw(final)

I(intial)=(2/5)(1.4 × 10^31 kg)(1)^2
= 5.6 x 10^30

I(final)=(2/5)(1.4 × 10^31 kg/.55)(.55)^2
=9.317 x 10^29

(5.6 x 10^30)(26.3 day) = (9.317 x 10^29)(w)

w(final)=158.1 day

This answer is wrong. Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong here?
Thank You!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi Hollywood!

Now I'm not ever sure of anything I say or do, but I would try to equate the initial and final angular momentums L = m * v * r since they should be conserved.
Where the tangential velocity v = (2 * pi * r )/ TSo the initial Lo = (Mo * 2pi * Ro ^2)/To
And the final Lf= (Mf * 2pi * Rf ^2)/Tf

Since the mass of your star does not change (and hopefully, neither does '2*pi'), you can just write

Tf * Ro ^2 = To * Rf ^2

Since Ro = 1 and Rf = .55

Tf = 26.3 * (.55^2) = 7.9...days

Hope that's correct!
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top