Chapter 11

Angular Momentum
Multiple Choice
1.

Two vectors lying in the xy plane are given by the equations A = 5i + 2 j and

B=2 i 3 j . The value of A B is

2.

a.

19 k

b.

11 k

c.

19 k

d.

11 k

e.

10 i j

Two vectors lying in the xz plane are given by the equations A = 2 i + 3 k and
B = i + 2 k . The value of A B is

3.

a.

b.

c.

7k

d.

7 j

e.

i + 5k

A particle located at the position vector r = (i + j) m has a force F = (2 i + 3 j) N

acting on it. The torque about the origin is
a.

(1 k )N m

b.

(5 k )N m

c.

(1 k )N m

d.

(5 k )N m

e.

(2 i + 3 j )N m

215

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4.

CHAPTER 11

A car of mass 1000 kg moves with a speed of 50 m/s on a circular track of radius
100 m. What is the magnitude of its angular momentum (in kg m2/s) relative to
the center of the race track?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

5.

A solid cylinder of radius R = 1.0 m and mass 10 kg rotates about its axis. When
its angular velocity is 10 rad/s, its angular momentum (in kg m2/s) is
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

6.

7.

5.0 102
5.0 106
2.5 104
2.5 106
5.0 103

50.
20.
40.
25.
70.

A particle whose mass is 2 kg moves in the xy plane with a constant speed of

3 m/s in the x-direction along the line y = 5. What is its angular momentum (in
kg m2/s) relative to the origin?
a.

30 k

b.

30 k

c.

15 k

d.

15 k

e.

45 k

A particle whose mass is 2 kg moves in the xy plane with a constant speed of

3 m/s along the direction r = i + j . What is its angular momentum (in
kg m2/s) relative to the origin?
a.

0 k

b.

6 2 k

c.

6 2 k

d.

6k

e.

6 k

Angular Momentum

8.

217

A particle whose mass is 2.0 kg moves in the xy plane with a constant speed of
3.0 m/s along the direction r = i + j . What is its angular momentum (in
kg m2/s) relative to the point (0, 5.0) meters?

9.

a.

12 k

b.

11 k

c.

13 k

d.

14 k

e.

21 k

In the figure, a 1.6-kg weight swings in a vertical circle at the end of a string
having negligible weight. The string is 2 m long. If the weight is released with
zero initial velocity from a horizontal position, its angular momentum (in
kg m2/s) at the lowest point of its path relative to the center of the circle is
approximately

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
10.

40
10
30
20
50

A massless rope is wrapped around a uniform cylinder that has radius R and
mass M, as shown in the figure. Initially, the unwrapped portion of the rope is
vertical and the cylinder is horizontal. The linear acceleration of the cylinder is

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

(2/3)g
(1/2)g
(1/3)g
(1/6)g
(5/6)g

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11.

CHAPTER 11

Two blocks, m1 = 1.0 kg and m2 = 2.0 kg, are connected by a light string as shown
in the figure. If the radius of the pulley is 1.0 m and its moment of inertia is
5.0 kg m2, the acceleration of the system is

m1
m2

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
12.

(1/6)g
(3/8)g
(1/8)g
(1/2)g
(5/8)g

A puck on a frictionless air hockey table has a mass of 5.0 kg and is attached to a
cord passing through a hole in the surface as in the figure. The puck is revolving
at a distance 2.0 m from the hole with an angular velocity of 3.0 rad/s. The
angular momentum of the puck (in kg m2/s) is

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

80
20
30
60
50

Angular Momentum

13.

219

A pendulum bob of mass m is set into motion in a circular path in a horizontal

plane as shown in the figure. The square of the angular momentum of the bob
about the vertical axis through the point P is
P

14.

a.

m2 g 3 sin4 /cos

b.

m2 g 3 sin3 /cos

c.

m2 g

sin2 /cos

d.

m2 g

sin /cos

e.

m2 g

sin2

A puck on a frictionless air hockey table has a mass of 5.0 g and is attached to a
cord passing through a hole in the surface as in the figure. The puck is revolving
at a distance 2.0 m from the hole with an angular velocity of 3.0 rad/s. The cord
is then pulled from below, shortening the radius to 1.0 m. The new angular
velocity (in rad/s) is

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

4.0
6.0
12
2.0
8.0

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15.

CHAPTER 11

A thin rod of mass M and length L is struck at one end by a ball of clay of mass
m, moving with speed v as shown in the figure. The ball sticks to the rod. After
the collision, the angular momentum of the clay-rod system about A, the
midpoint of the rod, is

90
90

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
16.

A particle of mass m = 0.10 kg and speed v0 = 5.0 m/s collides and sticks to the
end of a uniform solid cylinder of mass M = 1.0 kg and radius R = 20 cm. If the
cylinder is initially at rest and is pivoted about a frictionless axle through its
center, what is the final angular velocity (in rad/s) of the system after the
collision?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
17.

(m + M/3)(vL/2)
(m + M/12)(vL/2)
(m + M/6)(vL/2)
mvL/2
mvL

8.1
2.0
6.1
4.2
10

A skater extends her arms horizontally, holding a 5-kg mass in each hand. She is
rotating about a vertical axis with an angular velocity of one revolution per
second. If she drops her hands to her sides, what will the final angular velocity
(in rev/s) be if her moment of inertia remains approximately constant at
5 kg m2, and the distance of the masses from the axis changes from 1 m to .1 m?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

6
3
9
4
7

Angular Momentum

18.

A merry-go-round of radius R = 2.0 m has a moment of inertia I = 250 kg m2,

and is rotating at 10 rpm. A child whose mass is 25 kg jumps onto the edge of the
merry-go-round, heading directly toward the center at 6.0 m/s. The new angular
speed (in rpm) of the merry-go-round is approximately
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

19.

10
9.2
8.5
7.1
6.4

A solid sphere (radius R, mass M) rolls without slipping down an incline as

shown in the figure. The linear acceleration of its center of mass is
M
R

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
20.

221

(5/7)g sin
(3/5)g sin
(2/3)g sin
(1/2)g sin
(4/5)g sin

A solid cylinder rolls without slipping down an incline as shown in the figure.
The linear acceleration of its center of mass is
M
R

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

(5/7)g sin
(1/2)g sin
(2/3)g sin
(3/5)g sin
(4/5)g sin

222

21.

CHAPTER 11

A cylindrical shell rolls without slipping down an incline as shown in the figure.
The linear acceleration of its center of mass is
M
R

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
22.

A solid sphere, spherical shell, solid cylinder and a cylindrical shell all have the
same mass m and radius R. If they are all released from rest at the same elevation
and roll without slipping, which reaches the bottom of an inclined plane first?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

23.

(5/7)g sin
(1/2)g sin
(3/5)g sin
(2/3)g sin
(4/5)g sin

solid sphere
spherical shell
solid cylinder
cylindrical shell
all take the same time

Stars originate as large bodies of slowly rotating gas. Because of gravity, these
clumps of gas slowly decrease in size. The angular velocity of a star increases as
it shrinks because of
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

conservation of angular momentum

conservation of linear momentum
conservation of energy
the law of universal gravitation
conservation of mass

Angular Momentum

24.

Five objects of mass m move at velocity v at a distance r from an axis of rotation

perpendicular to the page through point A, as shown below. The one that has
zero angular momentum about that axis is
v

(b)

(a)

25.

223

(c)

(d)

(e)

The object shown below has mass m and velocity v. The direction of its angular
momentum vector with respect to an axis perpendicular to the page through
point O is
v
O

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
26.

downwards.
to the right.
into the page.
up out of the page.
counterclockwise.

Two objects of mass m1 = 2m and m2 = m move around a rotation axis O in

parallel circles of radii r1 = r and r2 = 2r with equal tangential speeds. As they
rotate, forces of equal magnitude are applied opposite to their velocities to stop
them. Which statement is correct?
m

2m

2r

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

m2 will stop first because it has the larger initial angular velocity.
m1 will stop first because it has the smaller radius.
m2 will stop first because the torque on it is greater.
m1 will stop first because it has the smaller moment of inertia.
Both objects will stop at the same time because the angular accelerations are
equal.

224

27.

CHAPTER 11

A torque can be exerted on a body with a fixed axis of rotation

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

28.

only by a centripetal force.

only by a force directed radially outwards.
only by a tangential force.
only by a force with a component directed radially outwards.
by any force perpendicular to but not pointing directly toward or away
from the axis of rotation.

Five identical cylinders are each acted on by forces of equal magnitude. Which
force exerts the biggest torque?
F

F
F

(a)

29.

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e )

The diagram below shows five cylinders, each cylinder rotating with constant
angular velocity about its central axis. The magnitude of the tangential velocity
of one point of each cylinder is shown, along with each cylinders radius and
mass. Which cylinder has the largest angular momentum?
v = 2 m/s

30.

v = 2 m/s

v = 4 m/s

v = 2 m/s

r=2m
M = 20 kg

r=2m
M = 10 kg

r=2m
M = 10 kg

r=4m
M = 10 kg

r=2m
M = 20 kg

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e )

v = 4 m/s

The diagram below shows five thin cylindrical shells, each shell rotating with
constant angular velocity about its central axis. The magnitude of the tangential
velocity of one point of each cylinder is shown, along with each cylinders radius
and mass. Which cylindrical shell has the largest angular momentum?
v = 2 m/s

v = 2 m/s

v = 4 m/s

v = 2 m/s

r=2m
M = 20 kg

r=2m
M = 10 kg

r=2m
M = 10 kg

r=4m
M = 10 kg

r=2m
M = 20 kg

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e )

v = 4 m/s

Angular Momentum

31.

The diagram below shows five 20-kg rods of the same 2.0-m length free to rotate
about axes through the rods, as indicated. Which rod experiences the greatest
gravitational torque?

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

(a)

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

(b)

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

(c)

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

(e)

(d)

32.

225

A force F is applied to a cylindrical roll of paper of radius R and mass M by

pulling on the paper as shown. The acceleration of the center of mass of the roll
of paper (when it rolls without slipping) is
F

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

1 F
.
2M
F
.
M
3 F
.
2M
4 F
.
3M
2F
.
M

226

33.

CHAPTER 11

A 0.5 kg fish, hooked as shown below, starts to swim away at a speed of 3 m/s.
The angular momentum of the fish relative to the hand holding the fishing rod is
about
rod, 1 m
hand

60

11 m

2m
30

v = 3 m/s

Fish

10 m

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
34.

The 1560 kg solid steel door to a bank vault is 2.00 m high, 1.00 m wide and 10
cm thick. One hinge is 60.0 cm down from the top on the left hand side of the
door. The other hinge is 30.0 cm up from the bottom. What horizontal force, in
what direction, does the door exert on the upper hinge?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

35.

kg m 2
.
s
kg m 2
.
6
s
kg m 2
17
s
kg m 2
.
30
s
kg m 2
.
60
s
3

6950 N, left
6950 N, right
7640 N, left
7640 N, right
15,300 N, left

The 1560 kg solid steel door to a bank vault is 2.00 m high, 1.00 m wide and 10
cm thick. One hinge is 60.0 cm down from the top on the left hand side of the
door. The other hinge is 30.0 cm up from the bottom. What horizontal force, in
what direction, does the door exert on the lower hinge?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

6950 N, left
6950 N, right
7640 N, left
7640 N, right
15,300 N, left

Angular Momentum

36.

227

The free body diagram below represents a 1500 kg car sitting on a 3000 kg bridge
supported at its far ends. The cars position is three quarters of the length L from
the left end of the bridge. Identify the error in the equation below:

(0.50L)FEarth on bridge (0.75L)FEarth on car LF1 + LF2 = 0

F2
F1
FE on car
FE on bridge
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

37.

F1 never produces a torque on the bridge no matter where the axis of

rotation is placed.
F 2 never produces a torque on the bridge no matter where the axis of
rotation is placed.
Torques have been taken about two axes and summed.
Because the perpendicular distance to F1 from the left end of the bridge is 0,
LF1 should be 0.
Because the perpendicular distance to F 2 from the right end of the bridge is
0, LF2 should be 0.

Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 are connected by a light cord that passes over a
pulley of mass M, as shown. Block m2 slides on a frictionless horizontal surface.
The blocks and pulley are initially at rest. When m1 is released, the blocks
accelerate and the pulley rotates. The total angular momentum of the system of
the two blocks and the pulley relative to the axis of rotation of the pulley is

m2
M

m1
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

the same at all times.

proportional to 1, the length of string from the pulley to m1 .
proportional to 2 , the length of string from the pulley to m2 .
conserved because the Earth doesnt move.
proportional to the velocity of the blocks.

228

38.

CHAPTER 11

Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 are connected by a light cord that passes over a
pulley of mass M, as shown. Block m2 slides on a frictionless horizontal surface.
The blocks and pulley are initially at rest. When m1 is released, the blocks
accelerate and the pulley rotates. The total angular momentum of the system of
the two blocks and the pulley relative to the axis of rotation of the pulley is

m2
M

m1
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

39.

When an object is effectively isolated from external torques, like an ice skater
twirling on the tip of one skate, the angular momentum of the object
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

40.

can be increased by shifting mass out away from the axis of rotation.
can be decreased by shifting mass out away from the axis of rotation.
can be increased by shifting mass in toward the axis of rotation.
can be decreased by shifting mass in toward the axis of rotation.
cannot be changed except by friction at the point of contact.

A hockey puck traveling at speed v on essentially frictionless ice collides

elastically with one end of a straight stick lying flat on the ice. In this collision
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

41.

proportional to the radius of the pulley.

proportional to the velocity of the blocks.
proportional to the length of the string.
to all of the above.
only to (a) and (b) above.

momentum is conserved.
angular momentum is conserved.
energy is conserved.
all of the above are conserved.
only momentum and angular momentum are conserved.

A hockey puck traveling at speed v on essentially frictionless ice collides with

one end of a straight stick lying flat on the ice and sticks to that end. In this
collision
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

momentum is conserved.
angular momentum is conserved.
energy is conserved.
all of the above are conserved.
only momentum and angular momentum are conserved.

Angular Momentum

42.

229

A space station out beyond the solar system is rotating with constant angular
velocity. A spaceship heading into the station along a diameter of the station,
uses its rockets to brake, and then docks inside the station. When the spaceship
docks, the angular momentum of the system consisting of the station and ship
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

is less than the original angular momentum of the station.

is the same as the original angular momentum of the station.
is greater than the original angular momentum of the station.
is less than the original angular momentum of the station, but the angular
velocity increases.
is greater than the original angular momentum of the station, but the
angular velocity decreases.

Open-Ended Problems
43.

Halleys comet moves about the sun in an elliptical orbit with its closest
approach to the sun being 0.59 A.U. and its furthest distance being 35 A.U.
[1 Astronomical Unit (A.U.) is the Earth-sun distance]. If the comets speed at
closest approach is 54 km/s, what is its speed when it is farthest from the sun?

44.

What is the angular momentum of the moon about the Earth? The mass of the
moon is 7.35 1022 kg, the center-to-center separation of the Earth and the moon
is 3.84 105 km, and the orbital period of the moon is 27.3 days.

45.

A regulation basketball has a 25-cm diameter and a mass of 0.56 kg. It may be
2
approximated as a thin spherical shell with a moment of inertia MR2. Starting
3
from rest, how long will it take a basketball to roll without slipping 4.0 m down
an incline at 30 to the horizontal?

46.

A coin with a diameter 3.0 cm rolls up a 30 inclined plane. The coin starts out
with an initial angular speed of 60.0 rad/s and rolls in a straight line without
1
slipping. If the moment of inertia of the coin is MR2, how far will the coin roll
2
up the inclined plane?

230

CHAPTER 11

Angular Momentum

Chapter 11
Angular Momentum
1.

20.

2.

21.

3.

22.

4.

23.

5.

24.

6.

25.

7.

26.

8.

27.

9.

28.

10.

29.

11.

30.

12.

31.

13.

32.

14.

33.

15.

34.

16.

35.

17.

36.

18.

37.

19.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

910 m/s

44.

2.89 1034 kg m2/s

45.

1.65 s

46.

12.4 cm

231

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CHAPTER 11