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

A 12-cm-diameter, 600 g cylinder, initially at rest, rotates on an axle along its axis. A steady 0.50 N force applied tangent to the edge of the cylinder causes the cylinder to reach an angular velocity of 500 rpm in 2.0 s. What is the magnitude of the frictional torque between the cylinder and the axle?

Verified step by step guidance
1
Calculate the radius of the cylinder by dividing the diameter by two. This will be used to find the torque applied by the force.
Convert the angular velocity from rpm (revolutions per minute) to rad/s (radians per second) using the conversion factor: 1 rpm = \(\frac{2\pi}{60}\) rad/s.
Use the angular acceleration formula \(\alpha = \frac{\Delta \omega}{\Delta t}\), where \(\Delta \omega\) is the change in angular velocity and \(\Delta t\) is the time interval, to find the angular acceleration of the cylinder.
Calculate the net torque using the formula \(\tau_{net} = I \alpha\), where \(I\) is the moment of inertia of the cylinder. For a solid cylinder, \(I = \frac{1}{2} m r^2\), where \(m\) is the mass and \(r\) is the radius.
Determine the frictional torque by subtracting the torque due to the applied force from the net torque. The torque due to the applied force can be calculated using \(\tau = r F\), where \(F\) is the force and \(r\) is the radius at which the force is applied.

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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). In this scenario, the torque generated by the applied force can be determined using the formula τ = r × F, where τ is torque, r is the radius of the cylinder, and F is the force applied tangentially.
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Moment of Inertia

The moment of inertia is a property of a body that quantifies its resistance to angular acceleration about an axis. For a solid cylinder, it is calculated using the formula I = (1/2) m r², where m is the mass and r is the radius. Understanding the moment of inertia is crucial for analyzing how the cylinder responds to applied torques.
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Angular Acceleration

Angular acceleration is the rate of change of angular velocity over time, typically measured in radians per second squared (rad/s²). It can be calculated using the formula α = (ω_f - ω_i) / t, where ω_f is the final angular velocity, ω_i is the initial angular velocity, and t is the time taken. This concept is essential for determining the net torque acting on the cylinder, including the effects of friction.
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