A solid sphere and a hollow sphere of the same mass and radius are released from

Practice Questions

Q1
A solid sphere and a hollow sphere of the same mass and radius are released from rest at the same height. Which one reaches the bottom first?
  1. Solid sphere
  2. Hollow sphere
  3. Both reach at the same time
  4. Depends on the surface

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

A solid sphere and a hollow sphere of the same mass and radius are released from rest at the same height. Which one reaches the bottom first?
  • Step 1: Understand that both spheres are released from the same height and have the same mass and radius.
  • Step 2: Know that when an object rolls down a slope, it has both translational kinetic energy (movement) and rotational kinetic energy (spinning).
  • Step 3: Learn about moment of inertia, which is a measure of how difficult it is to change the rotation of an object. A lower moment of inertia means it's easier for the object to roll.
  • Step 4: The solid sphere has a lower moment of inertia compared to the hollow sphere. This means it can roll down the slope more easily.
  • Step 5: Since the solid sphere can convert more of its potential energy (from being at a height) into translational kinetic energy (moving forward), it will reach the bottom of the slope faster than the hollow sphere.
  • Moment of Inertia – The solid sphere has a lower moment of inertia compared to the hollow sphere, which affects how it rolls down an incline.
  • Energy Conversion – The conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy is more efficient in the solid sphere due to its distribution of mass.
  • Rolling Motion – Understanding the dynamics of rolling objects, including translational and rotational motion.
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