A solid cylinder and a hollow cylinder of the same mass and radius are released from rest at the same height. Which one will have a greater speed at the bottom?
Practice Questions
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Q1
A solid cylinder and a hollow cylinder of the same mass and radius are released from rest at the same height. Which one will have a greater speed at the bottom?
Solid cylinder
Hollow cylinder
Both have the same speed
Depends on the mass
The solid cylinder has a smaller moment of inertia compared to the hollow cylinder, thus it will have a greater speed at the bottom.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: A solid cylinder and a hollow cylinder of the same mass and radius are released from rest at the same height. Which one will have a greater speed at the bottom?
Solution: The solid cylinder has a smaller moment of inertia compared to the hollow cylinder, thus it will have a greater speed at the bottom.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that both cylinders are released from the same height and have the same mass and radius.
Step 2: Know that when they roll down, they convert potential energy into kinetic energy.
Step 3: Recognize that kinetic energy has two parts: translational (movement) and rotational (spinning).
Step 4: The solid cylinder has a smaller moment of inertia, which means it spins more easily compared to the hollow cylinder.
Step 5: Since the solid cylinder can convert more of its potential energy into translational kinetic energy, it will move faster.
Step 6: Conclude that the solid cylinder will have a greater speed at the bottom than the hollow cylinder.