A uniform disc rotating in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis p...
Problem Statement
- A uniform disc of mass 5 kg is rotating in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis passing through its center at 20 rpm.
- A body of mass 2 kg is initially kept at the center of the disc.
- If the mass slides to the edge of the disc, what would be the angular speed of the disc?
Solution
Let the initial angular speed of the disc be ω1 and the final angular speed be ω2.
Let the radius of the disc be R and the moment of inertia be I.
Given, mass of the disc = 5 kg and mass of the body = 2 kg.
Initial Situation
The initial moment of inertia of the system is given by:
I = ½ mR² + mR² = 1.5mR² = 1.5 x 5 x R² = 7.5R²
The initial angular momentum of the system is given by:
L1 = Iω1 = 7.5R² x (20 x 2π/60) = 5πR²
The initial kinetic energy of the system is given by:
K1 = ½ Iω1² = 3.75πR⁴
Final Situation
The final moment of inertia of the system is given by:
I' = ½ mR² + m(R+R)² = 2.5mR² = 2.5 x 5 x R² = 12.5R²
The final angular momentum of the system is given by:
L2 = I'ω2 = 12.5R² x ω2
Conservation of angular momentum gives:
L1 = L2
5πR² = 12.5R² x ω2
ω2 = 2π x 20 x 5/12.5 = 16π rad/s
Change in Kinetic Energy
The final kinetic energy of the system is given by:
K2 = ½ I'ω2² = 10πR⁴
The change in kinetic energy is given by:
ΔK = K2 - K1 = 6.25πR⁴
The change in kinetic energy is positive, which means that the kinetic energy of the system has increased.
Conclusion
The angular speed of the disc when the mass slides to the edge is 16π rad/s. The kinetic energy of the system increases when the mass slides to the edge.