What are the Moments of Inertia for a Ball and Hoop on a Ramp?

In summary, a hollow, 50N ball and a 50N hoop are released from rest at the top of a 3m long ramp. Both objects have a diameter of .5m. Using the equations d=1/2at^2+Vot and I=mr^2, the velocity at the bottom of the ramp for the ball is 6 m/s and for the hoop is 4.29 m/s. For the angular speed at the bottom, the correct formula is 2πr/t, and for the moment of inertia, the correct formula for the ball is 2/3mr^2 and for the hoop is mr^2. For the rotational kinetic energy at the bottom, the formula
  • #1
vector7
2
0

Homework Statement


A hollow, 50N ball and a 50N hoop are released from rest at the top of a 3m long ramp. Both objects have a diameter of .5m. If the ball reaches the bottom in 5s, and the hoop in 7s, find (for each object):
a. velocity at the bottom
b. angular speed at bottom
c. moment of intertia at bottom
d. rotational kinetic energy at bottom
e. angular momentum at bottom


Homework Equations



d=1/2at^2+Vot
I=mr^2

That's another part of the problem: I don't know the needed equations

The Attempt at a Solution



I answered part A correctly, using d=1/2at^2, but the rest I bombed. I attempted using 2πr/t for part B, I=mr^2 for C, KE=1/2mv^2 for D, and mvr for E, all of which were wrong.
Any help would be appreciated.
 
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  • #2
vector7 said:

Homework Statement


A hollow, 50N ball and a 50N hoop are released from rest at the top of a 3m long ramp. Both objects have a diameter of .5m. If the ball reaches the bottom in 5s, and the hoop in 7s, find (for each object):
a. velocity at the bottom
b. angular speed at bottom
c. moment of intertia at bottom
d. rotational kinetic energy at bottom
e. angular momentum at bottom


Homework Equations



d=1/2at^2+Vot
I=mr^2

That's another part of the problem: I don't know the needed equations

The Attempt at a Solution



I answered part A correctly, using d=1/2at^2, but the rest I bombed. I attempted using 2πr/t for part B, I=mr^2 for C, KE=1/2mv^2 for D, and mvr for E, all of which were wrong.
Any help would be appreciated.

From the sound of things, I assume there should have been a stipulation that there is no slipping occurring (that is, all motion is a result of rolling only, not sliding and rolling). Otherwise, portions of the problem would be indeterminate without additional information.

That said, for part B, your formula 2πr/t was not quite correct, but your thoughts are probably on the right track. The units of that formula would be m/s, which is linear velocity, but what you are looking for is angular velocity, which would be in units of radians/s. Think about the relationship between the linear velocity at the bottom and how fast the objects must be rotating to maintain that speed.

For Part C, are you expected to actually calculate the moments of inertia? If so, things will be a bit more complicated. If not, your formula should be correct for the hoop (assuming a thin-walled hoop, if it has a given thickness you will need to take the average radius). You should be able to look up the moment of inertia for a hollow sphere.

Parts D and E will require the moments of inertia for each object from Part C. You should have formulas for both Energy and Momentum. Remember, they are similar in nature to linear Energy/Momentum equations ( E = (1/2) m v2 and p = m v).

I hope that gets you on the right track. If I've confused you, please let me know.
 
  • #3
Alright I mostly understand everything now, thanks. But I still have a problem on part C, with the moment of inertia at the bottom. For the ball, i used I=2/3mr^2, which yielded 2.08, and for the hoop I used I=mr^2 and got 3.13, but I was still marked wrong. I'm not sure wether the work is wrong or wether it was marked just because I left out the units.
 

1. What is circular motion and how is it related to the ramp problem?

Circular motion is the movement of an object along a circular path. The ramp problem involves an object moving along a circular path on a ramp, where the force of gravity acts as the centripetal force keeping the object in circular motion.

2. How does the angle of the ramp affect the circular motion?

The angle of the ramp affects the speed and radius of the circular motion. A steeper ramp will result in a faster circular motion with a smaller radius, while a shallower ramp will result in a slower circular motion with a larger radius.

3. What is the relationship between the mass of the object and the circular motion on the ramp?

The mass of the object does not affect the circular motion on the ramp, as long as the force of gravity remains constant. This is because the centripetal force is dependent on the velocity and radius of the circular motion, not the mass of the object.

4. How does the velocity of the object change as it moves along the ramp?

The velocity of the object remains constant in circular motion on the ramp, as long as the angle of the ramp and the force of gravity remain constant. This is because the centripetal force is always directed towards the center of the circular path and is perpendicular to the velocity, resulting in a constant speed.

5. What is the centripetal force and how is it calculated in the ramp problem?

The centripetal force is the force that keeps an object in circular motion. In the ramp problem, it is equal to the force of gravity acting on the object, which can be calculated using the formula Fc = mv²/r, where m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, and r is the radius of the circular path.

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