Mit Rotation
Mit Rotation
Mit Rotation
Problem Set 10
1. Moment of Inertia: Disc and Washer
(a) A thin uniform disc of mass M and radius R is mounted on an axis passing
through the center of the disk, perpendicular to the plane of the disc. Determine
the moment of inertia about the following two parallel axes that are perpendicular
to the plane of the disk.
2. Compound Pulley
Consider a fixed wheel that consists of a uniform cylindrical disk with a radius R and
a mass M1 , and a second uniform cylindrical disk of radius R/2 and mass M2 that is
attached concentrically to the first disk, as shown in the top view (above right). The
wheel is free to rotate about a frictionless pivot at its center. A rope is wound around
the smaller disk, then around a small frictionless post. The other end of the rope is
attached to a block of mass Mb so that both disks rotate together as the block falls.
The downward acceleration of gravity is g. The block is released from rest.
How long does it take the block to fall a distance d? Express your answer in terms of
R, M1 , M2 , Mb , g, and d as needed.
8.01x Classical Mechanics: Problem Set 10 3
3. Suspended Rod
A uniform rod of Length L = 2.0 m and mass m = 4.0 kg is hinged to a wall at one
end and suspended from the wall by a cable that is attached to the other end of the
rod at an angle of β = 30◦ to the rod (see figure below). Assume the cable has zero
mass. There is a contact force at the pivot on the rod. Use α to represent the angle
of the pivot force (the force acting at the wall). The magnitude and direction of this
force is unknown. In this problem, you will solve for the magnitude of the tension in
the cable and the direction and magnitude of the pivot force.
(a) What is the magnitude of the normal force on each foot (N1 > N2 )? Express you
answer in terms of some or all of the following: m, α, h, d and g.
(b) How far must the feet be apart so that the normal force on the upper foot is just
zero? This is the moment when the person starts to rotate and fall over. Express
you answer in terms of some or all of the following: m, α, h and g.
8.01x Classical Mechanics: Problem Set 10 5
What external torque must be applied to the cylinder to keep it rotating at a constant
angular velocity? Express your answer using some or all of the following variables: m
for the mass of the cylinder, g for the gravitational acceleration, R for the radius of
the cylinder and µ for the coefficient of friction.
8.01x Classical Mechanics: Problem Set 10 6
pulley:
mass mP g
radius R
m d
frictionless
Consider a pulley of mass mp and radius R that has a moment of inertia 21 mp R2 . The
pulley is free to rotate about a frictionless pivot at its center. A massless string is
wound around the pulley and the other end of the rope is attached to a block of mass
m that is initially held at rest on frictionless inclined plane that is inclined at an angle
β with respect to the horizontal. The downward acceleration of gravity is g. The block
is released from rest.
How long does it take the block to move a distance d down the inclined plane? Write
your answer using some or all of the following: R, m, g, d, mp , β.
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