AP Physics C: Mechanics 6.4 A Describe the Behavior of a System Using Conservation of Angular Momentum Questions

Analyze angular momentum for a selected system and determine when external torque or angular impulse changes the total about an axis.

Syllabus
Effective Fall 2024
Course
AP Physics C: Mechanics

Exam points

  • decide whether angular momentum is conserved by checking external torque and the chosen system boundary
  • distinguish angular-momentum conservation from kinetic-energy loss in a sticking rotational collision
  • solve disk, platform or turntable collisions with total initial angular momentum and combined final inertia
  • include a tangentially moving person's, stone's or child's r cross p contribution with the correct sign
  • predict angular-speed changes when a diver or other nonrigid system changes rotational inertia

AP Physics C: Mechanics 6.4 A Describe the Behavior of a System Using Conservation of Angular Momentum Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

A system consists of a small sphere of mass m and radius R at rest on a horizontal surface and a uniform rod of mass M=2 m and length \ell attached at one end to a pivot with negligible friction, where RR \ll \ell. There is negligible friction between the surface and the sphere to the right of Point A and nonnegligible friction to the left of Point A. The rod is held horizontally as shown in Figure 1, then is released from rest. The total rotational inertia of the rod about the pivot is 13M2\frac{1}{3} M \ell^{2} and the rotational inertia of the sphere about its center is 25mR2\frac{2}{5} m R^{2}. After the rod is released, the rod swings down and strikes the sphere head-on. As a result of this collision, the rod is stopped, and the ball initially slides without rotating to the left across the horizontal surface.

Derive an expression for the linear speed v0v_{0} of the sphere immediately after colliding with the rod in terms of the length \ell and physical constants as appropriate.

After sliding a short distance, at time t=0 the sphere encounters a region of the horizontal surface with a coefficient of kinetic friction μ\mu, beginning at Point A as indicated in Figure 1. The sphere begins rotating while sliding and eventually begins rolling without sliding at Point B, also as indicated.

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