Physics 111-001

Physics 111-001: Assignments for June 19

Homework #4: Rotation
Due See Moodle

Reading Assignment:
During this week, you should be reading Chapter 8 in Hecht.

Homework Assignment:
Late homework will not be accepted. Please write your answers to these questions on a separate sheet
of paper with your name and this class’s section number, 002. Turn in your homework to me in my
office or in my mail box in the physics department by 4 pm. You are encouraged to work with your
classmates on these assignments, but please write the names of all your study group members on your
homework.

Practice Problems:
We have listed problems from the textbook that involve related skills and concepts; answers to these
problems may be found in the back of the text. You should use these extra problems for practice and
review, but they do not need to be turned in.
Selected Practice Problems from Hecht: 8.5, 8.7, 8.19, 8.25, 8.28, 8.37, 8.54, 8.67, 8.71, 8.119, 8.141,
8.151, 8.155, 8.157, 8.167, 8.75, 8.77, 8.83, 8.87, 8.95, 8.99, 8.105, 8.111

1. Rotation Wheel (4 pts). A wheel rotates with a constant angular acceleration of 3.5 rads/s2. If the
angular velocity of the wheel is 2.0 rads/s at t=0:
a. What angle does the wheel rotate through in 2 s?
b. What is the angular velocity at t = 2s?

2. Vroom Vroom (4 pts). A car accelerates uniformly from rest and researches a speed of 22m/s in 9s. If
the diameter of the tire is 58 cm, find
a. The number of revolutions that a tire during this motion, assuming no slipping occurs.
b. What is the final rotational velocity of a tire in revolutions per second?

3. Merry! Go! Around! (10 pts) Estimate the following quantities for you on the edge of a merry-go-
round:
a. Angular velocity
b. Typical tangential acceleration (while accelerating)
c. Typical radial acceleration
d. Kinetic energy (Use your angular velocity)
e. Angular momentum (Use your angular velocity)

4. Moments of inertia (6 pts) Find the moments of inertia of the following for the following items (make
sure to sketch the objects): (Don’t Do)
a. A uniform hoop of Mass M and radius R – about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the
hoop through its center.
b. A uniform rigid rod of length L and mass M - about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the
rod (y-axis) through its center of mass.
c. Dumbbell – The same rigid rod listed in part b connected by two large weights on each end
with mass of 3m.

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5. Dumbbell goes ‘round and ‘round (2 pts): A uniform rod of mass M=3m and length L rotates in a
vertical plane about a frictionless pivot through its center. Particles of masses m1 =m and m2 =m are
attached at the ends of the rod.
a. Determine the angular momentum when a specific angular velocity is given.
b. Determine the angular acceleration of the system when the rod makes an angle of .

m2

m1

6. Wheel rolling (4 pts). A uniform hoop with a mass m=100g and Diameter of 1m rolls down an incline
plane (where 30°) without slipping.

a. How high does the hoop have to start in order to make exactly 3 revolutions before it gets to the
flat part of the ramp?
b. Show that its moment of inertia is given by mr2.
c. What is the potential energy at the height you calculated in part a.
d. What is the velocity of the wheel when it gets to the bottom of the ramp? (Remember to use
both types of kinetic energy, rotational and linear.)

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7. Rotating Rod (4 pts)

L/2

Mg

pivot

A uniform rod of length L and mass M is free to rotate about a frictionless pivot at one end. The rod is
released from rest in the horizontal position.

a. What is the initial angular acceleration of the rod? (use Torques)

b. What is the initial linear acceleration of the right end of the rod?
c. What is the angular velocity of the rod when it is in its lowest position (use Energy)?
d. What is the linear velocity of the center of mass and the lowest point of the rod in the
vertical position?

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8. My aching back! (10 pts) When you bend over at the waist, large forces are exerted on the discs
between your vertebrae. In particular, the force on the fifth lumbar vertebra can be quite substantial:

The diagram at right shows a free-body diagram for the spinal column. The force is the force exerted
by the pelvis on the base of the spine (at the fifth lumbar vertebra). Neither the direction nor the
magnitude of this force is known. The force is the force on the spine from the erector spinae muscles
(the muscles that run along your back). The magnitude of this force is not known, but it is known to
make an angle of 12° with the spine, as shown in the diagram. The other forces represent the fraction of
your body weight supported by your spine; the vector 0.4 represents the weight of your trunk,
while the vector 0.2 represents the weight of your head and arms. Assume a total body mass of 70
kg.

a) Determine the magnitude of while you maintain this position.

b) Determine the magnitude and direction of .

9. Walk the Plank! (8 pts) During a mutiny, the

captain of the SS Physics (mpirate = 80 kg) is forced
to walk the plank (from left to right, see figure).
The plank is uniform and has a length L = 6 m and
a mass of 20 kg.
a. Draw a free-body diagram of the board
just before it tips.
b. How far can the pirate walk before the
plank tips? Give your answer relative to
the left edge of the plank.