Will the ball rotate on a frictionless slope?

AI Thread Summary
A ball placed on a frictionless slope will not rotate due to the absence of friction, despite the presence of torque generated by gravitational force. The net force acting on the ball creates a torque relative to the contact point, but without friction, this point cannot serve as a pivot. Consequently, while the ball may have angular momentum relative to the contact point, it will not achieve angular velocity about its center of mass. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between sliding and rolling motion in the context of torque and friction. Therefore, the ball will slide down the slope without rotating.
aerograce
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There is a ball placed on a frictionless slope. As we all know that, since there is no friction, the ball will not rotate. But after drawing a free-body-diagram and decomposing the gravity, we find that the net force mgsinθ has a torque relative to the contacting point with the value of mgsinθR. Then it means that, relative to the contacting point, the ball will rotate. It seems that I am in a dilemma now. Can anyone help me explain this?
 
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Welcome to PF, aerograce.

It might help to think through a somewhat simpler problem. Imagine dropping a circular disk from rest so that it falls vertically downward with no rotation. The force of gravity is the only force acting on the disk. At some arbitrary time during the fall, suppose you choose a point on the rim of the disk as origin for calculating torque, as shown in the figure. Is there a net torque about this point? If so, why doesn't the disk rotate?
 

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The ball does not roll, it slides.
The observation that there would be a torque about the contact point is correct - but, without the friction, the contact point cannot act as a pivot for the torque.

To see this, draw the free-body diagram.
[edit]Ah TSny beat me to it...
 
It will acquire angular momentum relative to the contact point: linear velocity x orthogonal displacement. But that does not mean it will rotate. To rotate it must acquire angular velocity about its mass centre.
 
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