Solutions for Physics 1201 Course Review (Problems 10 through 17)

10)
a) Here, there is no friction between any of the surfaces in contact, so we do not
need to be concerned with the normal forces on the blocks. Since the only horizontal force
on m1 would be due to friction, in this case the upper block is not accelerated; thus, a1 =
0 . In the absence of friction, the only horizontal force acting on m2 is the applied force F

6 N.

m.

4.62
= 6 N. ; hence, the acceleration of the lower block is a 2 = m =
.
sec.2
1.3 kg.
2
The lower block will ultimately be pulled out from under the upper one.
b) Since the contact surfaces between the blocks and between the lower block and
the tabletop are horizontal, the normal forceson the blocks are simply N1 = m1g and N2
= ( m1 + m2 ) g . The static frictional force acting between the blocks is then
fs sN1 = sm1g . So the two blocks will move together as a unit provided that this limit
applies. (Since the tabletop is frictionless, N2 is not important to know and contact with
the upper block is the only source of friction.)

The horizontal force equation for the lower block is F fs = m2a2 , while that for
the upper block is fs = m1a1 . If the two blocks are to stay together, their accelerations

fs
F fs
= a2 =
. When we apply the maximum
m1
m2
possible value for the static frictional force f smax = s N1 , we find that the limit for the
must match, implying that a1 =

applied force is given by

s m1g
F s m1g
= max
m1
m2

F
max = s ( m1 + m 2 ) g
0.45 ( 0.7 + 1.3 kg.) ( 9.81

m.
) 8.83 N.
sec.2

Since Fmax > 6 N. , a horizontal applied force at this level still permits the blocks to
stay together. Because they move as a unit, their mutual acceleration is

6 N.
F
m.
a = m +m =
3.00
. Note that this means that the static
sec.2
( 0.7 + 1.3 kg.)
1
2
frictional force here is fs = m1a = ( 0.7 kg. ) ( 3.00 m./sec.2 ) = 2.10 N. , which is certainly

f smax = s m 1g = 0.45 ( 0.7 kg.) ( 9.81

less than

that

a2 =

m.
) 3.09 N. As a check, we find
sec.2

F fs
6.00 2.10 N.
m.

3.00
= a .
sec.2
m2
1.3 kg.

For an applied horizontal force F = 10 N. > Fmax , the blocks will not move together
and the kinetic frictional force fk = km1g must be used in our analysis. Upon replacing

fs with fk in the horizontal force equations for each block, we now have

a1' =

fk
mg
m.
m.
= k 1 = k g 0.32 ( 9.81
) 3.14
2
sec.
sec.2
m1
m1

and

m.
10.0 N. 0.32 ( 0.7 kg.) ( 9.81
)
2
F fk
sec.
a2 ' =

m2
1.3 kg.

10.0 2.20 N.
m.
6.00

sec.2
1.3 kg.

The lower block will be pulled out from under the upper one, but here the upper block will
move forward a bit first, which was not the case in the situation we treated in part (a) above.

c) Nothing else about this system is changed if we apply the force to the lower block
with a spring, instead of a cord. In order for the two blocks to continue moving together, the
force applied must not exceed Fmax 8.83 N. Hookes Law tells us that the restoring force of a
spring is given by Fsp = k x , where x is the displacement of the spring from equilibrium.
A maximum allowed force of 8.83 N. requires that the maximum permitted displacement for
this spring be ( x ) max =

Fmax
8.83 N.

0.123 m. This will set the limit on the

k
72 N./m.

amplitude for the pair of blocks oscillating at the end of this spring.
11)
a) r The three horizontal forces acting on the car are the applied force
r from the

FA , the kinetic frictional force between the tires and the road, f k , and the drag
r
force from the air, FD . Since the vehicle is on a level road here, the normal force on it
from the road surface is N = Mg , so the kinetic frictional force is f = k Mg .
engine,

With
at constant speed, the net horizontal force on the car is
r
r the
r car traveling
r
Fnet x = FA + f k + FD = 0 Fnet x = FA f k FD = 0 . The net power applied to
the car will then also bezero:

r
r r
r r
r r
r
r
r
r
Pnet = Fnet x v = FA v + f k v + FD v = FA v cos 0 o + f k v cos 180 o + FD v cos 180 o

= FA v f k v FD v = 0 .

We are told that the power being provided by the engine is PA = FAv = 95,000 W . At

1 hr.

mi.
m.
m.
a speed of v = 65 hr. 1609 mi. 3600 sec. 29.05 sec. , the portion of this power that is
being used to overcome air drag is

PD = FD v = FA v f k v = PA k Mgv

= 95,000 W 0.025 ( 900 kg.) ( 9.81

95,000 6410 W 88,600 W

To maintain the car at this speed,

to overcome
air drag.

m.
m.
) ( 29.05 sec. )
2
sec.

88,600 W
0.933 of the engines power is being used
95,000 W

b) If the drag force is proportional to the square of the vehicles speed, then at 80

80 mph 2
FD ' v' 2
=
=

1.515 times stronger than it is at

mph, the drag is F
v2
65 mph
D
65 mph. The power necessary to overcome air drag at this higher speed, however, is

80 mph 3
v' 2 v'
FD 'v'
PD '
=
= 2
=
1.864 times greater than at 65 mph. This gives
F v
PD
v v
65 mph
D

us PD 1.864 PD 1.864 88,600 W 165,200 W . The total power the engine must
now supply is PA = PD + Pf 165,200 + 6410 W 171,600 W ( 230 hp ) .

c) With the car now moving up an incline, the normal force from the road surface
becomes N = Mg cos , making the kinetic frictional force fk = kMg cos .
In addition to the forces already described, the weight force on the vehicle now also has a
component parallel to the incline, W|| = Mg sin .

r
r
r
r
r
Fnet || = FA + FD + f k ' + W|| = 0 , so the net
power becomes Pnet = FAv FDv ( k Mg cos ) v ( Mg sin ) v = 0 . Since the car is
on a 12% grade, tan = 0.12 sin 0.1191 , cos 0.9929 . We have seen that
The net force on the car is now

the power exerted by air drag is PD 88,600 W at 29.05 m./sec. (65 mph) and that it is

proportional to v , so we can write

3
PD = 88, 600 v W . The power which must be
29.05

delivered by the engine in order for the vehicle to maintain a speed v on the 12% upward
incline is then

PA = FA v = PD + ( k Mgcos ) v + ( Mg sin ) v

3
88, 600 v + ( 0.025) ( 900 kg.) ( 9.81
29.05

m.
sec.2

) ( 0.9929 ) v + ( 900 kg.) ( 9.81

m.
sec.2

) ( 0.1191) v

3.614 v 3 + 219.2 v + 1052 v 3.614 v 3 + 1271v .

We are going to keep the power from the engine at the same level it had in
part (b) above, so we need to solve for v the equation 3.614 v3 + 1271 v = 171,600 .
It is not very convenient to solve this last equation directly (we can, of course, use graphing
software, as will be discussed below), but we dont need to resort to trial-and-error
completely either. We know that this amount of power on level ground allows the car to
travel at 80 mph ( 35.8 m./sec. ), so we might expect that on a 12% climb, the car might
move, say, 10% or so slower. Lets make a first guess that the solution is
v = 32 m./sec. Since the cubic term in the equation, 3.614 v3 , changes much more rapidly
than the linear term, 1271v , well simply set this term to 1271 32 for the present and
solve the following for v :

3.614 v 3 + 1271 32 = 3.614 v 3 + 40670 = 171,600

m.
3.614 v 3 = 130, 900 v 3 36, 200 v 33.1 sec. ,

which is pretty close to our initial guess. If we adjust the linear term to accommodate this
new value, we find

m.
3.614 v 3 + 1271 33.1 = 3.614 v 3 + 42070 = 171,600 v 33.0 sec. .

Our solution has stabilized to one decimal place, so we may stop here. A more precise
solution, using graphing software to find the x-intercepts for the function
3.614 v3 + 1271 v 171,600 , gives us v 32.98 m./sec. , so our result is acceptable.

As a check, we can calculate the individual power terms:

power exerted against drag:
PA 3.614 33.03 129,900 W
power exerted against friction:
Pf 219.2 33.0 7230 W
power exerted against gravity:
PW 1052 33.0 34,700 W
total power to be delivered by engine:
171,800 W

agreeing with the intended total value to about 0.12% .

d) Without the applied force from the engine, and assuming that there is no internal
friction in the drive train of the car (a bit unrealistic), the net force on the vehicle acting
parallel to the downward incline is

r
r
r
r
Fnet || ' = W|| + FD + f k ' = 0 Fnet || ' = W|| FD f k ' = 0 ,
making the net power Pnet = ( Mg sin

) v FDv ( k Mg cos ) v = 0 .

Each of these terms has the same value as it did in part (c) above, giving us

1052 v 3.614 v 3 219.2 v 832.3v 3.614 v 3 = 0 ,

which is much easier to solve for v than the power equation we found in the previous part.
2

We can factor this as v (832.3 3.614 v ) = 0 , so either v = 0 (the uninteresting

solution, since the power terms are of course all zero when the car is parked) or

832.3 3.614 v 2 = 0 v2 230.3 v 15.2 m./sec. (34 mph) .

In a real vehicle, internal friction would make the downhill coasting speed somewhat lower

than this.

12)
a) The central event in this physical arrangement is the elastic collision between the
two blocks. The combination of linear momentum conservation with conservation of
kinetic energy leads to the result that the relative velocity of the masses before the collision
is the opposite of the relative velocity afterwards, that is, v1 v2 = ( v1 v2 ) , which may
be rearranged more conveniently as v1 + v1 = v2 + v2 . For our collision, this gives us v
+ v = 0 + V . This provides a relationship among the velocities, but tells us nothing else.
We will need to uncover the rest by examining the energies of the blocks.

One way to analyze this would be to perform a detailed study of all the energy
changes for the blocks at each significant event. However, we can save ourselves some
trouble by noticing a feature of the motion of m1 . Upon leaving the spring launcher at the
top of its ramp, m1 has a kinetic energy equal to the potential energy Usp that had been
stored in the spring. When it reaches the bottom of the ramp to collide with m2 , m1 has a
kinetic energy Usp plus the gravitational potential energy it acquired by descending 35 cm.,
since this ramp is frictionless (so the angle of this incline or any curvature that it has
become irrelevant). After the collision, m1 has just enough kinetic energy to come to rest
as it reaches its launcher; hence, it has lost an amount of energy Usp . But because the
collision with m2 is elastic, this must be the amount of energy transferred to m2 . We can
thus conclude that after the collision,
m2 has a kinetic energy of
m 2V

= Usp = k1 ( x )12 ( 100 N./m. ) ( 0.11 m. )2 0.605 J.

Returning to m1 , we have said that its kinetic energy before the collision was
m1v2 = Usp + m1gH = 0.605 + ( 0.1 kg. ) ( 9.81 m./sec.2 ) ( 0.35 m. )
0.605 + 0.343 J. 0.948 J.
and after the collision, the kinetic energy became m1v

= m1gH 0.343 J.

1/ 2
" 2 (U sp + m1gH ) %1/ 2 * 2 ) 0.948 J. m.
So we can calculate that v = $
/ ( 4.36 sec. and
' ( ,
m
#
&
1
+ 0.1 kg. .
1/ 2
1/ 2
+ 2 # 0.343 J. .
$ 2 # m1gH '
m.
v' = " &
* "0 * " 2.62 sec. ( m1 has reversed direction, so v
)
m
%
(
1
, 0.1 kg. /

becomes negative). The !

relative-velocity equation then tells us that
v + v = 0 + V

V 4.36 + ( 2.62 ) 1.73 m./sec.*

!
* rounding from a larger number of significant figures

Since we know the kinetic energy of m2 after the collision, we can now solve for the value

m2 =

2U sp
2K 2 '
2 0.605 J.
=

0.402 kg.
2
2
m.
V
V
(1.74 sec. ) 2

(This can also be determined using linear momentum conservation.) While much of the
information in this part of the Problem may seem to have been extraneous, it will be quite
usefulfor the next portion.
b) In this new situation, m2 comes to rest just as it makes contact with the spring
bumper on its ramp. So after the collision, m2 has only enough kinetic energy to climp the
ramp and overcome its friction. The work m2 must perform against gravity is m2g ( h1 +
h2 ) = ( 0.402 kg. ) ( 9.81 m./sec.2 ) ( 0.025 + 0.05 m. ) 0.296 J. The length of incline
which exerts frictional force on m2 is given by

sin 9 o =

h2
L

L =

h2
0.05 m.

0.320 m.
o
0.156
sin 9

The work which m2 must perform against kinetic friction is then

kN2L = k ( m2 g cos 9 ) L
( 0.17 ) ( 0.402 kg. ) ( 9.81 m./sec.2 ) ( 0.988 ) ( 0.320 m. ) 0.212 J.
Thus, m2 must have departed from the collision with m1 with a kinetic energy of
0.296 + 0.212 0.508 J. , which means that its velocity after the collision in this situation
was

2 0.508 J. 1/ 2
m.
V
1.59 sec. .
0.402 kg.

We now need to find the speed of m1 before this collision, in order to determine
how it was launched. The relative-velocity equation tells us v + v = 0 + V
1.59 m./sec. As we are really only interested in v , we will solve this equation for v
and eliminate it from the linear momentum conservation equation:
m1 v + m2 0 = m1 v + m2 V
( 0.100 kg. ) v ( 0.100 kg. ) ( 1.59 v m./sec. ) + ( 0.402 kg. ) ( 1.59 m./sec. )
0.159 0.100 v + 0.640 kg.m./sec.

0.200 v 0.799

v 4.00 m./sec.

So the kinetic energy of m1 before the collision was

m1v2 ( 0.100 kg. ) ( 4.00 m./sec. )2 0.799 J.

As in part (a), this energy is the sum of the spring launchers stored potential energy and the
gravitational potential energy released as m1 drops by 35 cm. Since this latter amount has
already been found to be 0.343 J. , the launcher must have held a potential energy of 0.799
0.343 J. 0.456 J. Using the formula for the (ideal) spring potential energy in the launcher,
the initial compression of the spring in this situation would have been

U sp ' =

1
k ( x' ) 2
2 1

1/ 2
2

0.456
J.
0.096 m. or 9.6 cm.
0.456 J. x'
100 N.

m.

13)

a) In a simple pendulum, it is idealized that all of the pendulums mass is

concentrated in a mass-point at one end. For a realistic or physical pendulum, however,
we must take into account that the mass is distributed over the body of the pendulum. If
we deflect the pendulum from its vertical equilibrium by an angle , the gravitational
torque acting to restore it to equilibrium will be in the opposite direction with a magnitude
of rCM Mg sin , where rCM is the distance from the pivot point of the pendulum to its
center-of-mass. Since the pendulum turns rigidly, the torque is

= I tot = I tot
small (

d 2
= MgrCM sin . If the angular displacement from equilibrium is
dt 2

< 0.3 radians ), then sin (in radians) and we can write
I tot

d 2
Mg rCM
dt 2

Mg rCM
d 2
+
0 ,
2
I tot
dt

which is a differential equation for simple harmonic motion. For this pendulum,

2 =

MgrCM
I tot
2
, so it will oscillate with a period of T = = 2
I tot
MgrCM .
If we apply this formula to the simple pendulum, Itot = M l2 and rCM =

mass is at one end; we then obtain the familiar

result T = 2

l2

l , since all the

M
= 2 l .
g
Mg l

For this longcase clock (sometimes called a grandfathers clock) pendulum, the rod
has mass m and length L and is pivoted from one end, with the bob being a disk of mass
M and radius R centered at a distance d below the pivot. The distance of the center-ofmass from the pivot is then

rCM =

m ( 1L) + M d
2

m+M

( 2.000 kg.) ( 1 1.100 m.) + 5.000 kg. d

2

2.000 + 5.000 kg.

0.1571 + 0.7143 d m.

The total moment of inertia of the pendulum is that of a rod pivoting about one end plus a
disk revolving about a point outside its center-of-mass. The moment of inertia for the

uniform rod is then 3 mL . By the parallel-axis theorem, the moment inertia of the heavy
pendulum bob is MR2 + Md 2 . Thus, the total moment of inertia of the pendulum is
given by
1
1
I tot = 3 mL2 + 2 MR 2 + M d 2

1
( 2.000
3

kg.) (1.100 m.) 2 +

1
2

( 5.000 kg.) ( 0.080 m.) 2 + ( 5.000 kg.) d 2 0.82267 + 5 d 2 kg. m.2

We want to adjust this pendulum so that the period is very precisely equal to 2.000
seconds at sea level on the Earths equator. So we will need to move the bob to the position
for which

T = 2
M

tot

I tot
M tot grCM
is the total mass of the pendulum

1/ 2
2
2

0.82267 + 5 d kg.m.

2
2.000 sec .
m.
( 2.000 + 5.000 kg.) ( 9.78033 sec.2 ) ( 0.1571 + 0.7143 d m.)

2.000 2
0.82267 + 5d 2
2

0.82267 + 5d 1.08975 + 4.95487 d
10.7554 + 48.9026 d
2

5d 2 4.95487 d 0.26708 0 d 1.0422 m.

only positive solution

b) Thermal contraction has caused the linear dimensions of this pendulum to be

reduced by 1/1000 ( 0.1% ) . The effect on the bob itself is insignificant, but the effect on
the length of the rod and the distance of the bob from the pivot both must be considered.
The length of the rod is now L = 0.999 L 1.0989 m. This brings the bob closer
to the pivot by a proportional amount, so d = 0.999 d 0.999 1.0422 m. 1.0412 m.
The expression for the distance from the pivot to the center-of-mass becomes

rCM ' =

m ( 1 L' ) + M d'
( 2.000 kg.) ( 1 1.0989 m.) + 5.000 kg. 1.0412 m.
2
2

0.90070 m.
m+M
7.000 kg.

and that for the total moment of interia is

1

I tot ' = 3 mL' 2 +

MR 2 + M d ' 2
2
a 0.1% reduction of R has
negligible effect on the middle term

3 ( 2.000 kg.) (1.0989 m.) 2 + 2 ( 5.000 kg.) ( 0.080 m.) 2 + ( 5.000 kg.) (1.0412 m.) 2 6.24154 kg. m.2
This gives the period of the pendulum in this situation as

1/ 2
2

6.24154 kg.m.

T ' 2
1.99899 sec.
m.
(
7.000
kg.)
(
9.78033
)
(
0.90070
m.)

sec.2

In a week of 7 days 86400 sec./day = 604,800 seconds, the pendulum will make

604,800
604,800

302,553 oscillations,
T'
1.99899
corresponding to 2 302,553 605,106 seconds registered by the clock. The clock
would then be 605,106 604,800 306 seconds ( 5.09 minutes ) fast.

To restore the pendulum to keeping accurate time, the bob would need to be moved
to a distance D from the pivot given by

1/ 2
2
2

0.82105 + 5 D kg.m.

2
2.000 sec .
m.
(
7.000
kg.)
(
9.78033
)
(
0.15699
+
0.7143
D
m.)

sec.2

5D 2 4.95477 D 0.26794 0 D 1.0424 m.

only positive solution

The bob should therefore be moved downward away from the pivot by

D d 1.0424 1.0412 m. 0.0012 m. ( 1.2 mm.) .

To make such fine adjustments to the position of the bob, it was often fitted with a
calibrated vernier screw, indicated the number of minutes per day of correction. It is this
sensitivity to environmental changes that led people to see non-mechanical methods of
timekeeping.

14) We know that this spring-mass system (ideally) obeys the simple harmonic motion
differential equation, m

d2(x )
+ k ( x ) = 0 , for which the solution for the
dt 2

k
x = A sin( t + ) , with = m
. At a moment we
will call t = 0 , the displacement is x = 0.37 m. (the block starts, say, to the left of the

origin), the velocity

is v = 2.64 m./sec. (the block is moving to the right), and the
displacement from equilibrium is

acceleration is a = 1.90 m./sec.2 (the force on the block is to the right). The spring

constant is given as k = 64 N/m.

If we differentiate the displacement equation with respect to time, we obtain

v =

dx
= A cos ( t + ) ,
dt

a =

dv
= A [ sin ( t + ) ] = A 2 sin ( t + )
dt

At time t = 0 , this gives us

(

x )0 = Asin ( 0 + ) = A sin = 0.37 m.

v0 = A cos (

0 + ) = A cos = 2.64 m./sec.

a0 = A2 sin (

0 + ) = A2 sin = 1.90 m./sec.2

and
.

We can now calculate

1.90 m.2
a0
A 2 sin
2
sec.
=
=
( x )0
A sin
0.37 m.
period of oscillator:

2 5.135

rad.
sec.2

rad.
2.266 sec. ;

2
2 rad.
T =
2.77 sec . ;
2.266 rad.

sec.

64 N.
k
k
m.

12.5 kg. ;
the mass of the block is given by = m m =
2
2

5.135 rad.2
sec.

rad.
( 2.266
) (0.37 m.)
( x )0
A sin
sec.
=
=
tan

0.318 .
v0
A cos
2.64 m.
sec.

Since ( x )0 < 0 , so sin < 0 also, and v0 > 0 , so cos > 0 as well. This tells us
that is in quadrant IV , and thus that the phase angle is given simply by the calculator

value to tan 1 ( 0.318 ) 0.308 rad. (or 5.976 rad.). Finally, we can determine the
amplitude of oscillation from

A =

( x )0
A sin
0.37 m.
0.37 m.
=

1.18 m.
sin
sin
sin (0.308)
0.313

The equation for the displacement from equilibrium as a function of time is

therefore x = 1.18 sin ( 2.266 t 0.308 ) m. The total mechanical energy of this spring-

mass oscillator is given by E = k A2 ( 64 N./m. ) ( 1.18 m. )2 44.56 J .

15) Sphere A can be treated as a sphere of radius R and density , with an added,
embedded sphere with radius R and a density of 2 (giving that region a total
density of 3 ). Sphere B has a cavity in it of the same size, so we will work with it as a
sphere of radius R and density , with the added sphere having a density of
(producing a region with density zero). We will then work out the properties of these
two sphere in parallel calculations.

a) total mass This first calculation will make it clear why we choose to break
up these asymmetric spheres in the peculiar way described above. We have the large

4 3
, which has a mass of M = 3 R ;
a small excess-density sphere with radius R , density 2 , and a mass of
3
2 4 3
4 1

1
R =
R = R 3 or
mA = 2
3 2
38
3
4 M ; and a small negative
3
4 1
R
density sphere with radius R , density 2 , and a mass of mB =
3 2
= 4 R 3 = R 3 or 1 M . We can now put these results together to find
38
6
8
4 3
R = 5 R 3
+
the total mass of sphere A as MA = M + mA =
3
3
3
4 3
7 3
R =
R
(so M = 4mA and MA = 5mA ) and MB = M + mB =
6
6
3
(so M = 8mB and MB = 7mB ). These
additional relationships will be helpful in the
sphere with radius R and density

parts of the problem to follow.

b) moment of inertia about symmetry axis The axis which passes through both
the center of the large sphere and the center of the small sphere may be regarded as the
symmetry axis for both sphere A and sphere B .

Since the centers-of-mass of the large and small sphere lie on this axis, the moment of
inertia of the assemblage about this axis will simply be the sum of the center-of-mass
moments of inertia for the uniform-density spheres. Thus, for sphere A, we have

I A1 =

2
2
1
2
2
1
M R 2 + m A ( R ) 2 = ( 4m A ) R 2 + m A ( R ) 2
5
5
2
5
5
2
8 2
17
17
= ( +
) mA R2 =
mA R2 =
M R 2 = 0.34 M A R 2 ,
5 20
10
50 A

while for sphere B, we find

I = 2 M R 2 + 2 m ( 1 R ) 2 = 2 ( 8m ) R 2 + 2 m ( 1 R ) 2
B1
B
5
5 B 2
5
5 B 2
= (

16 2
31
31
+
) mB R2 = mB R2 =
M R 2 0.443M B R 2 .
5 20
10
70 B

We see that sphere A, having a greater density of mass concentrated near this rotation axis,
has a lower coefficient of rotational inertia ( 0.34 ) than does sphere B ( 0.443 ), where the
cavitycauses more of its mass to be distributed farther away from this rotation axis.
c) moment of inertia about perpendicular axis through geometrical center
Here, we will use a rotational axis through the center of the large sphere and
perpendicular to the line weve called the symmetry axis.

We can thus still use the center-of-mass moment of inertia for the large sphere, but we
need to invoke the parallel-axis theorem to work out the altered moment for the small
sphere. This requires the addition of a term which is the mass of the object times the
square of the distance from its center-of-mass to the rotation axis. The new result for
sphere A is

I A2 =

2
2
1
1
2
7
1
M R 2 + m A ( R ) 2 + m A ( R ) 2 = ( 4m A ) R 2 + m A ( R ) 2
5
5
2
2
5
5
2
14
4244
3
"parallelaxis"term

8 7
39
39
= ( +
) mA R2 =
m R2 =
M R 2 = 0.39 M A R 2 ,
5 20
20 A
100 A

while for sphere B, we find

I B1 =

2
2
1
1
2
7
1
M R 2 + m B ( R ) 2 + m B ( R ) 2 = ( 8m B ) R 2 + m B ( R ) 2
5
5
2
2
5
5
2
14
4244
3
"parallelaxis"term

= (

16 7
57
57
+
) mB R2 = mB R2 =
M R 2 0.407 M B R 2 .
5 20
20
140 B

Relative to this rotation axis, there is far less difference between the coefficients of
rotational inertia of spheres A and B .

d) location of center of mass When an object has a uniform density, its center- ofmass will be in the position of its geometrical center. Since we are treating spheres A and B
as composite objects, made up of two individual spheres of constant density, the centers
for A and B will lie along the symmetry axis connecting the centers of the large sphere and
the small sphere. So we can identify the symmetry axis as the x-axis and make the center
of the large sphere x = 0 ; this places the center of the small sphere at x = R . This
permits us to calculate the position of the center-of-mass of sphere A as

1 m
0 M + ( 1 R ) mA
A
mA
1
2
xA =
= 2
R =
R =
R ,
M + mA
MA
2 5m A
10
and that of sphere B as

1 m
0 M + ( 1 R ) mB
B
mB
1
2
xB =
= 2
R =
R =
R .
M + mB
MB
2 (7m B )
14

e) moment of inertia about perpendicular axis through center-of-mass

We again choose rotation axes perpendicular to the symmetry axes of our spheres A and B,
as we did in part (c), but now these axes pass through the centers-of-mass we have just
determined.

As before, we apply the parallel axis theorem to find this moment of inertia for
sphere A to be

I A3 = [

2
M R2 +
5

M x A2
123

] + [

"parallelaxis"term

2
1
1
m ( R )2 + m A ( R xA )2 ]
5 A 2
22444
144
4
3
"parallelaxis"term

2
1
2
1
1
1
( 4m A ) R 2 + ( 4m A ) ( R ) 2 + m A R 2 + m A ( R R ) 2 ]
5
10
5
4
2
10

8
4
2
16
19
19
= ( +
+
+
) mA R2 =
m R2 =
M R 2 = 0.38 M A R 2 ,
5 100 20 100
10 A
50 A
and for sphere B,

I = [ 2 M R2 +
B3
5

] + [

"parallelaxis"term

2
1
1
m ( R )2 + m B ( R xB )2 ]
5 B 2
22444
144
4
3
"parallelaxis"term

2
1
2
1
1
1
( 8m B ) R 2 + ( 8m B ) ( R ) 2 + m B R 2 + m B ( R [ R]) 2 ]
5
14
5
4
2
14

= (

M x B2
123

16
8
2
64
197
197

+
+
) mB R2 =
mB R2 =
M R 2 0.402M B R 2 .
5 196 20 196
70
490 B

16)

a) Since the only horizontal force acting on the block is static friction with the
turntable surface, this must be the source of the centripetal force that keeps the block
turning about the rotation axis of the turntable. So we have

mv 2
= m 2 R = f s s N .
R
2
Because the surface is horizontal, N = mg ; hence, R s g .
Fc =

The turntable is rotating at a frequency of f = 45 rev./min. , so its angular speed is

1 min.
rad.
rev.
rad.
= 2 f = 2 rev. 45

4.71 sec. . With the block placed at R = 0.06 m.

min. 60 sec.
from the rotation axis, the coefficient of static friction necessary to hold the block in place

( 4.71 rad. ) 2 0.06 m.

2 R
sec.

0.136 .
is given by s g
9.81 m.

sec.2

b) In order for static friction to hold the block in place at the edge of the turntable

where R = 0.15 m. , we now require

platter,
s

( 4.71 rad. ) 2 0.15 m.

sec.
0.339 .
9.81 m.2
sec.

c) For a fixed coefficient of static friction, we can rearrange the force inequality to
find the maximum distance at which an object can be situated from the rotation axis and

still be held in place by static friction,

s g
. With s = 0.23 for this turntable, the
2

maximum distance from the rotation axis would be given by

0.23 9.81 m.2

sec. 0.102 m. (10.2 cm.) .
R
rad.
( 4.71
)2
sec.
d) While the turntables angular speed is increasing, there will be both a centripetal

vT2
= 2 R and a tangential acceleration a = R , where v is the
T
T
R
instantaneous tangential velocity of the turntable at radius R and is the angular
acceleration aC

acceleration; both of the these accelerations are in the plane of the turntable surface. Since
centripetal acceleration points along a radius of the circle of motion and the tangential
acceleration
points along a tangent to that circle (hence the name), aC and aT are

perpendicular. So the total acceleration of a point on the turntable surface is the magnitude
of the resultant acceleration vector,

a tot =

aC2 + aT2 . The static friction must be able to

provide this total acceleration to keep the block moving along with the turntable, so we
require a tot s g .

The turntable accelerates from rest (

0 = 0 ) to a final angular speed

f = 4.71 rad./sec. (45 rpm) at a uniform rate in a time T , or =

f 0
f
=
.
T
T

The tangential acceleration is then

aT = R = f R . The greatest total acceleration
T

will therefore occur as the turntable reaches its final angular speed, at which time

a tot

2 2
1/ 2
f
2
= ( f R ) + (
R )
. So the requirement for static friction to hold the block in
T

place on the accelerating turntable gives us

2 2
1/ 2
f
f
2
R )
s g (
R ) 2 ( s g ) 2 ( 2f R ) 2
( f R ) + (
T
T

2f R 2
T2

( s g ) 2 ( 2f R ) 2

2f R 2
( s g ) 2 ( 2f R ) 2

T 2

( 4.71 rad. ) 2 ( 0.06 m.) 2

sec.

0.0241 sec.2
m. 2
rad.
2
2
( 0.23 9.81 2 ) ( [ 4.71
] 0.06 m. )
sec.
sec.

T 0.155 sec.

Thus, the minimum time in which the turntable may accelerate from rest to its operating

angular rate of 45 rpm without causing the block to slip is 0.155 seconds for uniform
angular acceleration. (Note that the mass of the block does not enter into any of the results
in this Problem.)
17)

a) The hanging spring scale reads weight by registering the tension T in its
spring. With the scale connected to the block by a cord, this tension can be determined
from the free-body diagram for the block from T + B Mg = 0 T = Mg B , where B
is the buoyancy force, equal to the weight of a volume of water which is the same as the
volume of the block, so

B = w V g = w M g = w Mg ,
b
b

with

w being the

density of water and

b being the density of the block. So the reading on the spring scale

w
w
is T = Mg Mg = 1 Mg .
b
b

The platform scale reads weight by registering the normal force N , which is
provided by an internal mechanism of the scale (frequently, a spring system). This force
can be determined from the free-body diagram for the scale as
N Mwg MBg B = 0

N = ( Mw + MB )g + B

where Mw is the mass of water and MB is the mass of the beaker. The buoyancy force
enters into this force equation because the fluid pressure which pushes on the block also
pushes on the walls of the beaker.
For our problem, the block has mass M = 0.840 kg. , the beaker, MB = 0.095 kg. ,
and the water, Mw = 1.36 kg. The readings for aluminum and magnesium blocks are
density ( gm./cm.3 )

aluminum

magnesium

buoyancy force, B

2.65

1.00 gm.

m.
cm.3
2.65 gm. 0.84 kg. 9.81 sec.2 3.11 N

cm.3

1.74

1.00

1.74

gm.
cm.3
gm.
cm.3

m.
0.84 kg. 9.81 sec.2 4.74 N

spring scale reading, T = Mg B

aluminum

m.

( 0.84 kg. 9.81

) 3.11 5.13 N
sec.2

magnesium

( 0.84 kg. 9.81

m.
) 4.74 3.50 N
sec.2

platform scale reading, N = ( Mw + MB )g + B

aluminum

magnesium

([ 1.36 + 0.095 kg.] 9.81

m.
) + 3.11 17.38 N
sec.2

([ 1.36 + 0.095 kg.] 9.81

m.
) + 4.74 19.01 N
sec.2

b) As this is a physical arrangement in static equilibrium, the net force on the

rod is zero; thus, TL + TR + B Mg = 0 .

We are told that the rod has a length of 75 cm. and a cross-sectional area of 8.0 cm.2 , so
its volume is 600 cm.3 The buoyancy force is equal to the weight of an equal volume of
water, hence

B = w V g = (1

gm.
cm.3

1 kg.
m.
3
)
( 600 cm. ) ( 9.81 2 ) 5.89 N .
1000
gm.
sec.

The force equation then gives us

TL + TR = Mg B = ( 2.8 kg. ) ( 9.81 m./sec.2 ) 5.89 21.58 N .

We can also analyze the torques acting on the rod. If we place the pivot point at
the left end of the rod, then we can neglect the tension TL , since it will have a momentarm of zero length. As for the other torques,

torque due to weight of rod:

W = ( 25 cm. ) Mg sin 90

torque due to buoyancy force:

B = + ( 75 cm. ) B sin 90

torque due to tension in right-hand cord:

T = + ( 75 cm. ) Tr sin 90
R

For this static equilibrium,

TR =

W + B + T = 25 Mg + 37.5 B + 75 Tr = 0
R

( 25 cm.) ( 2.8 kg.) ( 9.81 m.2 ) ( 37.5 cm.) ( 5.89 N )

sec.

75 cm.

6.21 N .

From the force equation above, we find that TL = 21.58 TR 15.37 N .

Were the right-hand cord disconnected or removed, its tension contribution

would become zero and our force equation would now be TL = Mg B 21.58 N .
The center-of-mass of the rod would then need to be in a different location in order for
the rod to remain static and level. Let us call x this new distance of the center of mass
from the left end of the rod. The torque equation is then

W + B = x Mg + 37.5 B = 0 x =

( 37.5 cm.) ( 5.89 N )

8.04 cm.
( 2.8 kg.) ( 9.81 m.2 )
sec.

-- G.Ruffa
original notes developed during 2007-09
revised: September 2010