The rotational analog of Newton's second law is
| τ |
 |
|
=
Iα,
where all torques
τ,
moments of inertia
I,
and angular accelerations
α, are computed around a fixed axis. This equation states that the angular acceleration of an extended rigid object is proportional to the net torque acting on it. The moment of inertia
I
is the rotational analog of translational mass.
For a collection of point particles, the moment of inertia is given by
I =
| mr2. |
 |
|
For rigid objects of uniform composition,
this table in the textbook lists moments of inertia about different axes.
Recall that the magnitude of torque generated by a force of magnitude
F
is
where, as before,
r
is the length of the position vector,
F
is the magnitude of the applied force, and
θ is the angle between the vectors
r
and
F
.
By convention, when an applied force causes an object to rotate counterclockwise, the torque on the object is positive; when the force causes the object to rotate clockwise, the torque on the object is negative.
The Guided Problem guide you through the following Problem-Solving Strategy.
• |
Read the problem carefully at least once. |
• |
Draw a picture of the system, identify the object of interest, and indicate forces with arrows. |
• |
Label each force in the picture. |
• |
Draw a free-body diagram of the object of interest. |
• |
Apply the rotational analog of Newton's second law. |
• |
Solve for the desired unknown quantity and substitute the numbers. |
A small sphere of mass
m = 2.40 kg
is attached to the end of a very light, rigid rod of length
L = 1.28 m
as shown in the figure. The mass and weight of the rod are negligible, and the sphere is small enough to be treated as a point particle. The left end of the rod is attached to the top of the pivot but free to rotate without friction around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the figure, and the sphere is held so the rod is horizontal and at rest. At the instant the sphere is released, determine its angular acceleration about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the figure and passing through the pivot point.
Read the problem carefully at least once.
Be sure to notice which quantities are known and which must be found. The known quantities are the sphere's mass and the length of the rod. The rod's mass and weight are negligible.
The unknown quantity to be determined is the angular acceleration of the sphere at the instant it is dropped.
Identify all of the forces acting on the rod and the sphere shown in the figure.
Correct.
Draw a picture of the system, identify the object of interest, and indicate forces with arrows.
Together, the rod and the sphere form a system that is the object of interest. The figure below shows a picture of this system.
Label each force in the picture.
Each force in this figure is labeled in a way that brings to mind the associated physical quantity. The normal force
n
is exerted by the pivot on the rod and
F
g is the gravity force acting on the sphere.
Draw a free-body diagram of the object of interest.
Which of the following free-body diagrams for the sphere-rod system is correct?
Correct.
Draw a free-body diagram of the object of interest. (cont.)
The correct FBD that describes all of the forces acting on the sphere-rod system is shown below.
Apply the rotational analog of Newton's second law.
Applying the rotational analog of Newton's second law means taking
| τ |
 |
|
=
Iα,
determining the axis of rotation, and writing out each term in the equation.
Consider the FBD above for the sphere-rod system. Which of the following is the correct substitution for the net torque
| τ |
 |
|
acting on the system? Remember that the rod is assumed to be massless. All torques are computed about an axis perpendicular to the screen and passing through the left end of the rod (the pivot). Positive torques tend to produce a counterclockwise rotation about this axis and negative torques tend to produce a clockwise rotation.
Correct.
Apply the rotational analog of Newton's second law. (cont.)
The normal force
n
produces no torque about the pivot because the normal force acts directly on the pivot so that
r = 0.
The gravity force acting on the sphere exerts a torque of
τFg = −rF sin θ.
The distance from the pivot to the sphere's center where the gravity force acts is
r = L = 1.28 m,
the magnitude of the force
F = Fg,
and
θ = 90°
so that
τFg = −LFg.
This torque is negative because the gravity force acting on the sphere tends to make the system rotate clockwise around the pivot. The net torque acting on the system is then
| τ |
 |
|
=
−LFg.
Consider the FBD and the discussion above of the sphere-rod system. Which of the following is the correct substitution for the moment of inertia
I
about the chosen axis?
Correct.
Apply the rotational analog of Newton's second law. (cont.)
Collecting these results, we have
| τ |
 |
|
=
−FgL and the sphere's moment of inertia
I
about the chosen axis is
I = mL2,
where
Fg = mg,
L = 1.28 m,
and
m = 2.40 kg.
Solve for the desired unknown quantity and substitute the numbers.
The rotational analog of Newton's second law is
| τ |
 |
|
=
Iα,
where
| τ |
 |
|
=
−FgL and
I = mL2.
In these expressions,
Fg = mg,
L = 1.28 m,
and
m = 2.40 kg
so that
The unknown quantity to be determined is the angular acceleration
α of the sphere at the instant it is dropped. We solve for this angular acceleration to obtain
α | = | − = − = − |
| = | − = −7.66 rad/s2. |
The negative angular acceleration indicates that when the sphere is dropped, it begins to rotate clockwise around the pivot point.
You have now completed the Guided Problem.
Additional Problems
Question 8.2a:
The figure shows a block of mass
m = 2.60 kg
hanging from a thin rope wrapped around a solid, disk-shaped pulley. The pulley has mass
M = 7.80 kg,
radius
R = 0.124 m,
and is free to rotate on a frictionless, horizontal axle. If the block is released from rest, determine the magnitude of its downward acceleration.
3.92
Incorrect. See
m/s
2
Question 8.2b:
A simple yo-yo is made by wrapping a thin string of negligible mass around the perimeter of a solid disk of radius
R = 0.119 m
and mass
M = 2.41 kg.
The free end of the string is held stationary by a person's hand, as in the figure, and the
yo-yo is released from rest. Determine the magnitude of the disk's downward acceleration.
6.53
Correct. m/s
2