A disk and a ring of the same mass and radius are rolling down an incline. Which
Practice Questions
Q1
A disk and a ring of the same mass and radius are rolling down an incline. Which one will have a greater translational speed at the bottom?
Disk
Ring
Both have the same speed
Cannot be determined
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A disk and a ring of the same mass and radius are rolling down an incline. Which one will have a greater translational speed at the bottom?
Correct Answer: Disk
Step 1: Understand that both the disk and the ring have the same mass and radius.
Step 2: Know that when they roll down the incline, they convert potential energy into kinetic energy.
Step 3: Recognize that kinetic energy has two parts: translational kinetic energy (movement) and rotational kinetic energy (spinning).
Step 4: Learn about moment of inertia, which is a measure of how difficult it is to change the rotation of an object. The disk has a lower moment of inertia than the ring.
Step 5: Since the disk has a lower moment of inertia, it can convert more of its potential energy into translational kinetic energy compared to the ring.
Step 6: Conclude that the disk will have a greater translational speed at the bottom of the incline than the ring.
Moment of Inertia – The moment of inertia determines how mass is distributed in an object and affects its rotational motion.
Energy Conversion – Potential energy is converted into translational and rotational kinetic energy as the objects roll down the incline.
Rolling Motion – Rolling objects have both translational and rotational kinetic energy, which influences their speed.