If a hollow cylinder and a solid cylinder of the same mass and radius roll down
Practice Questions
Q1
If a hollow cylinder and a solid cylinder of the same mass and radius roll down the same incline, which one reaches the bottom first?
Hollow cylinder
Solid cylinder
Both reach at the same time
Depends on the angle of incline
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If a hollow cylinder and a solid cylinder of the same mass and radius roll down the same incline, which one reaches the bottom first?
Step 1: Understand that both cylinders have the same mass and radius.
Step 2: Know that when objects roll down an incline, they have both translational (moving down) and rotational (spinning) motion.
Step 3: Learn about moment of inertia, which is a measure of how difficult it is to change an object's rotation. A smaller moment of inertia means it's easier to roll.
Step 4: Compare the moment of inertia of the solid cylinder and the hollow cylinder. The solid cylinder has a smaller moment of inertia than the hollow cylinder.
Step 5: Since the solid cylinder has a smaller moment of inertia, it can convert more of its potential energy into translational kinetic energy, allowing it to roll down faster.
Step 6: Conclude that the solid cylinder reaches the bottom of the incline first.
Moment of Inertia – The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation. A solid cylinder has a lower moment of inertia than a hollow cylinder, affecting their acceleration down an incline.
Rolling Motion – Rolling motion involves both translational and rotational kinetic energy. The distribution of mass affects how quickly an object can roll down an incline.
Energy Conservation – As the cylinders roll down the incline, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is divided into translational and rotational forms.