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

A 4.0-cm-diameter disk with a 3.0-cm-diameter hole rolls down a 50-cm-long, 20° ramp. What is its speed at the bottom? What percent is this of the speed of a particle sliding down a frictionless ramp?

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1
Identify the physical properties of the disk: The disk has an outer diameter of 4.0 cm and an inner diameter (hole) of 3.0 cm. Calculate the radius of the outer circle and the radius of the hole. The radius is half of the diameter.
Determine the moment of inertia (I) for the disk with a hole. The moment of inertia for a disk with a hole can be calculated by subtracting the moment of inertia of the hole from the moment of inertia of the full disk. Use the formula $I = \frac{1}{2} M R^2$ for a solid disk and adjust for the hole.
Analyze the motion of the disk down the ramp. Use the conservation of energy, where the initial potential energy (PE) at the top of the ramp is converted into translational kinetic energy (KE) and rotational kinetic energy at the bottom. The potential energy can be calculated using $PE = mgh$, where $h$ is the height of the ramp, which can be found using the sine of the ramp angle and its length.
Set up the energy conservation equation: $mgh = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 + \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2$. Here, $\omega$ (angular velocity) can be related to $v$ (linear velocity) through the rolling without slipping condition, $v = R\omega$. Solve this equation to find $v$, the linear velocity at the bottom of the ramp.
Calculate the speed of a particle sliding down a frictionless ramp using $v = \sqrt{2gh}$ and compare it to the speed of the rolling disk to find the percentage. This comparison gives insight into how rolling resistance and rotational inertia affect the motion down the ramp.

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Key Concepts

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

Moment of Inertia

The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotational motion. For a disk with a hole, the moment of inertia can be calculated by subtracting the moment of inertia of the hole from that of the full disk. This concept is crucial for determining how the disk rolls down the ramp, as it affects the distribution of mass and the resulting angular acceleration.
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Conservation of Energy

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In this scenario, the potential energy of the disk at the top of the ramp is converted into kinetic energy (both translational and rotational) as it rolls down. Understanding this concept allows us to calculate the final speed of the disk at the bottom of the ramp.
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Rolling Motion

Rolling motion involves both translational and rotational motion, where an object rolls without slipping. The relationship between linear speed and angular speed is given by the equation v = rω, where v is the linear speed, r is the radius, and ω is the angular speed. This concept is essential for comparing the speed of the rolling disk to that of a particle sliding down a frictionless ramp, as it highlights the differences in motion dynamics.
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