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Ch 12: Rotation of a Rigid Body
Chapter 12, Problem 12

A 1.0 kg ball and a 2.0 kg ball are connected by a 1.0-m-long rigid, massless rod. The rod is rotating cw about its center of mass at 20 rpm. What net torque will bring the balls to a halt in 5.0 s?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Torque

Torque is a measure of the rotational force applied to an object, calculated as the product of the force and the distance from the pivot point (lever arm). It determines how effectively a force can cause an object to rotate about an axis. In this scenario, understanding torque is essential to calculate the net torque required to stop the rotating system.
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Moment of Inertia

Moment of inertia is a property of a body that quantifies its resistance to angular acceleration about a given axis. It depends on the mass distribution relative to the axis of rotation. For the two balls connected by a rod, the moment of inertia will influence how much torque is needed to bring the system to a halt.
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Angular Deceleration

Angular deceleration refers to the rate at which an object's angular velocity decreases over time. It is the rotational equivalent of linear acceleration and is crucial for determining how quickly the system can be brought to rest. In this problem, calculating the required angular deceleration will help in finding the net torque needed to stop the rotation within the specified time.
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