Work–kinetic energy theorem for rotational motion. need to be symetri?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the need for symmetry in the work-kinetic energy theorem for rotational motion, as referenced in a textbook by Serway. Participants explore the implications of this requirement and its educational context, particularly at the freshman level.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why symmetry is necessary, referencing Serway's Physics textbook.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of summarizing concerns in words rather than using images, suggesting a need for clearer communication.
  • A later reply explains that the requirement for symmetry is due to the limitations of freshman-level physics, where students may not yet understand the complexities of moment of inertia as a second order tensor.
  • This participant argues that treating moment of inertia as a scalar simplifies the understanding of rotational motion for beginners.
  • One participant expresses agreement with the explanation provided, noting that clarity from the author could be improved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to agree on the educational rationale for requiring symmetry in the context of freshman physics, but there is no consensus on the necessity of this requirement beyond introductory levels or its implications for more advanced studies.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in mathematical understanding at the freshman level, particularly regarding the treatment of moment of inertia and the complexities of tensors, which are not covered in introductory courses.

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Why it need to be symetric
From the book Physics - Serway
Thanks

Edit:
I'm bringing just the statement from Serway's Physics 9th p 313
1133954057_Physics1.jpg
 
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That image was a bit too much. It's oversized for one thing, and for another that's verging on copyright violation.

Try again, with words rather than an image. Give a reference to the book (name, author, page number) and summarize the parts you don't understand. You can quote a paragraph or two, but an entire photocopied page is just too much.

I reopened the thread. Please try to summarize your concerns in words, not with a scanned image, and we'll do our best to try to answer your questions.
 
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The next time you post a scanned image, please try to resize your images so they're a bit smaller than this -- 640 by 480 or so.


The reason it has to be symmetric in that freshman level physics text is that freshman do not yet have the mathematical skills to cover the full problem. The problem is that ultimately moment of inertia is not a scalar. It is instead a second order tensor. You haven't studied tensors. You might *start* studying them in a couple of years. There is nothing in that more advanced treatment that necessitates that an object be symmetric.

By making the object in question symmetric, moment of inertia can essentially be treated as if it was a scalar, just like mass. This simplifies the problem of rotational motion to something that is understandable at a freshman physics level.
 
cool. making sense

(I would expect from the author to be more clear about that)
 

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