Comparing Inertia of Disk, Hoop, & Sphere

  • Thread starter Thread starter maverick19
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Inertia
Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on comparing the rotational dynamics of a uniform disk, hoop, and sphere, each with the same mass and radius, as they rotate about their center of mass when a constant tangential force is applied. The sphere has the smallest moment of inertia, leading to the largest angular acceleration and the greatest velocity after 5 seconds. Consequently, it also unravels the most string and undergoes the most rotations in that time frame. The hoop, having the largest moment of inertia, experiences the largest net torque but results in a smaller angular acceleration compared to the sphere. Clarifications are requested regarding the calculations for kinetic energy and angular acceleration, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of these concepts.
maverick19
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
A uniform disk(I=.5mr^2), hoop(I=mr^2), and sphere(I=.4mr^2), all with the same mass and radius, can freely rotate about an axis through the center of mass (CM) of each. A massless string sis wrapped around each item. The string is used to apply a constant and equal tangential force to each object. Enter D, H, S, or none or the same for the statements.

1) The one with the smallest moment of inertia about the axis
2) The object experiencing the largest net torque
3) The object undergoing the smallest angular acceleration
4) The object with the largest angular speed after an elapsed time of 5 seconds
5) The object for which the largest amount of string has unraveled in 5 seconds
6) The object with the smallest KE(rotational) after 5 seconds
7) The object that undergoes the most rotations in 5 seconds

I want to make sure I understand concept of how inertia relates so these are my answers:
1) Sphere, object with the smallest multiplier
2) Hoop, torque=I x angular accelerations so the object with the largest multiplier in the inertia
3) Sphere, mgh=.5mv^2 + .5Iw^2. .5Iw^2=.5(.5 or 1 or .4)mv^2. So if you solve for the velocity you would divide the other side of the equation by .5, 1, or .4 and dividing by .4 would give you the greatest velocity which means the a bigger s(arc length) which would give you a bigger angular acceleration
4) Sphere, same mentality as above
5) Sphere, same mentality as above
6) I'm not sure about this ne
7) Sphere


I am really not sure if I understand this stuff so please help me and if I got any wrong and explanation of why would be greatly appreciated because I want to understand why.


Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
2) Hoop, torque=I x angular accelerations so the object with the largest multiplier in the inertia
Check which values are the same in the 3 setups. It is not the angular acceleration.

3) Sphere, mgh=.5mv^2 + .5Iw^2. .5Iw^2=.5(.5 or 1 or .4)mv^2.
Which h, which v? What are you calculating there at all?

4) Sphere, same mentality as above
While this is the right answer here, it is inconsistent with your (wrong) 3. Small angular acceleration corresponds to a smaller angular velocity after 5 seconds.

6 can be solved with a correct 3 and the formula for the total energy. Alternatively, you can use 5 to answer this.

7 follows from 4 or 5.
 
For simple comparison, I think the same thought process can be followed as a block slides down a hill, - for block down hill, simple starting PE of mgh to final max KE 0.5mv^2 - comparing PE1 to max KE2 would result in finding the work friction did through the process. efficiency is just 100*KE2/PE1. If a mousetrap car travels along a flat surface, a starting PE of 0.5 k th^2 can be measured and maximum velocity of the car can also be measured. If energy efficiency is defined by...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 60 ·
3
Replies
60
Views
5K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
69
Views
6K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 138 ·
5
Replies
138
Views
8K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K