A disk and a ring of the same mass and radius are rolling down the same incline.

A disk and a ring of the same mass and radius are rolling down the same incline. Which one has a greater acceleration? (2019)

A disk and a ring of the same mass and radius are rolling down the same incline. Which one has a greater acceleration? (2019)

Step 1: Understand that both the disk and the ring have the same mass and radius.
Step 2: Learn about moment of inertia, which is a measure of how difficult it is to change the rotation of an object.
Step 3: Know that the moment of inertia for a solid disk is smaller than that of a ring.
Step 4: Realize that a smaller moment of inertia means the object can accelerate faster when rolling down an incline.
Step 5: Conclude that since the disk has a smaller moment of inertia than the ring, it will have a greater acceleration down the incline.

Moment of Inertia – The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation. A disk has a lower moment of inertia compared to a ring, affecting its acceleration when rolling.
Rolling Motion – Rolling motion involves both translational and rotational motion. The distribution of mass affects how quickly an object accelerates down an incline.
Acceleration on Inclines – The acceleration of objects rolling down an incline is influenced by their moment of inertia and the gravitational force acting on them.