Multiple Choice Practice Questions on Rotation for AP Physics C

Some multiple choice practice questions (with solution) on rotational motion were posted earlier on this site. You can access those posts by clicking on the label ‘rotational motion’ or ‘rotation’ below this post. We will discuss a few more multiple choice questions (MCQ) for practice in this section today:

(1) A car moves forward on level road with uniform velocity of 4 ms^–1. If there is no slipping of the tyres, the velocities (with respect to the road) of the points at the bottom, centre and the top of a tyre are respectively

(a) 4 ms^–1, 4 ms^–1 and 4 ms^–1

(b) zero, 4 ms^–1and 8 ms^–1

(c) 4 ms^–1, zero and 8 ms^–1

(d) 8 ms^–1, 4 ms^–1and 8 ms^–1

(e) 8 ms^–1, 4 ms^–1 and zero

The wheel has translational motion as well as rotational motion. Because of the rotation, points at the bottom of the wheel move backward with speed 4 ms^–1 where as points at the top move forward with speed 4 ms^–1. The resultant speed of points at the bottom is therefore zero (4 ms^–1 – 4 ms^–1) where as that of points at the top is 8 ms^–1 (4 ms^–1 + 4 ms^–1). The linear velocity of the centre of the wheel because of its rotation is zero and hence the velocity of 4 ms^–1 due to the translational motion is preserved at the central point of the wheel. The correct option is (b).

(2) Three solid spheres of masses 10 kg, 8 kg and 2 kg are connected by two springs of negligible mass and force constants 10 Nm^–1 and 12 Nm^–1 as shown. The spheres are at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface so that their centres are along the x-axis. An impulsive force is applied on the 10 kg mass so that it starts moving with a velocity of 2 ms^–1 along the positive x-direction. The velocity of the centre of mass of the system of spheres is

(a) 0.5 ms^–1

(b) 0.8 ms^–1

(c) 1 ms^–1

(d) 1.6 ms^–1

(e) 2 ms^–1

Some of you will be confused by this simple problem. You should remember that the forces developed in the springs are internal forces in the system and hence they will not affect the velocity of the centre of mass. The law of conservation of momentum is obeyed and we can equate the initial momentum to the final momentum:

10×2 + 8×0 + 2×0 = (10+8+2)v where v is the velocity of the centre of mass.

This gives v = 1 ms^–1

(3) A horizontal turn table of mass M in the form of a uniform circular disc of radius R is rotating about a central vertical axis with uniform angular velocity ω. The friction at the axis is negligible. When two equal masses m and m are gently placed symmetrically on either side of the centre at distance R/2 (Fig), the angular velocity of the turn table is reduced to ω/2. Then each mass m is equal to

(a) M/4

(b) M/2

(c) M

(d) 3M/2

(e) 2M

This question is meant for checking your understanding of the law of conservation of angular momentum and for testing whether you can apply it in situations where it is needed.

The angular momentum is conserved in the absence of external torque. The angular momentum of the system before and after placing the two equal masses is the same so that we have

(MR²/2) ω = [(MR²/2) + 2m (R/2)²] ω/2

[Note that MR²/2 is the moment of inertia of the disc about the central axis and 2m (R/2)² is the total moment of inertia of the two masses m and m about the same axis which is distant R/2 from them].

From the above equation MR²/4 = mR²/4 so that m = M

(4) A solid sphere S₁ spinning about its own central axis with angular velocity ω moves along a frictionless horizontal surface and undergoes a head-on elastic collision with an identical solid sphere S₂ at rest on the surface. After the collision the spin angular velocities of S₁ and S₂ will be respectively

(a) ω/2 and ω/2

(b) ω and zero

(c) zero and ω

(d) zero and 2ω

(e) 2ω and zero

Since the line of action of the force exerted by S₁ on S₂ passes through the centre of S₂, there is no torque on S₂. Its spin angular momentum after the collision is therefore zero (same as that before the collision). Since the angular momentum of the system is to be conserved, the angular momentum of S₁ also is unchanged by the collision. Hence its spin angular velocity after the collision is ω. The correct option is (b).

(5) A car is decelerating uniformly from velocity v₁ to velocity v₂ while getting displaced by s. If the diameter of the wheel is d, the angular acceleration of the wheel is

(a) (v₁² – v₂²)/ds

(b) (v₂ – v₁)/ds

(c) (v₁ – v₂)/ds

(d) (v₂² – v₁²)/ds

(e) 2(v₂² – v₁²)/ds

The acceleration ‘a’ of the car is given by

v₂² = v₁² + 2as

[We have applied the equation of linear motion, v² = v₀² + 2as (or, v² = u² + 2as)].

Therefore, a = (v₂² – v₁²)/2s.

The angular acceleration ‘α’ of the wheel is given by

α = a/r where r is the radius of the wheel (which is equal to d/2).

Therefore, α = [(v₂² – v₁²)/2s]/(d/2) = (v₂² – v₁²)/ds

Answer to AP Physics C Free Response Practice Question on Rotation

In the post dated 30^th September 2009 A free response question (for practice) on rotational motion for AP Physics C aspirants was given. As promised I give below a model answer for the same. The question also is given:

A solid cylinder of mass M and radius R has a light inextensible string wound round it. The free end of the string is tied to a rigid support (Fig.) and the cylinder is released from its state of rest.

(a) Determine the acceleration ‘a’ of the cylinder as it moves down, unwinding the string.
The cylinder itself is now suspended from the support so that it is free to rotate about its axle. The friction at the axle of the cylinder is negligible. A mass M₁ is now attached to the free end of the string wound round the cylinder as shown in the adjoining figure and the system is released from rest at time t = 0. Now answer the following questions (b), (c) and (d):

(b) Determine the acceleration a₁ of the mass M₁ in terms of the given parameters.

(c) In terms of the given parameters obtain the angular acceleration of the cylinder when the mass M₁ moves down, unwinding the string.

(d) Determine the kinetic energy of the cylinder at time t.

(a) The weight Mg of the cylinder tries to drive it downwards while the tension T in the sring tries to oppose the downward motion (fig.). The net force on the cylinder is Mg – T. If the downward acceleration is a we have

Mg – T = Ma from which T = M (g – a)

The torque produced by the tension T rotates the cylinder and produces an angular acceleration α (let us say) so that we have

TR = Iα where I is the moment of inertia (MR²/2) of the cylinder about its axis (axle). Therefore, TR = (MR²/2)α

But α = a/R so that TR = (MR²/2)(a/R)

Since T = M (g – a), the above equation becomes

M (g – a)R = (MR²/2)(a/R) from which (g – a) = a/2 so that a = 2g/3

(b) The force driving the mass M₁ downwards is its weight M₁g. The tension T₁ in the sring tries to oppose the downward motion (fig.). The downward acceleration a₁ of the mass M₁ is therefore given by M₁g – T₁ = M₁a₁ from which

T₁ = M₁(g – a₁)

Since the torque produced by the tension T₁ is T₁R and this is responsible for the rotation of the cylinder, we have

T₁R = Iα₁ where α₁ is the angular acceleration of the cylinder.

Substituting for T₁ and the moment of inertia I, we have

M₁(g – a₁)R = (MR²/2)α₁

Substituting for α₁ = a₁/R, the above equation becomes

M₁(g – a₁)R = (MR²/2)(a₁/R)

Or, 2M₁(g – a₁) = Ma₁, from which a₁ = 2M₁g/(2M₁+M)

(c) The angular acceleration α₁ of the cylinder when the mass M₁ moves down, unwinding the string is given by

α₁ = a₁/R = 2M₁g/ [(2M₁+M)R]

(d) The kinetic energy of the cylinder at time t is due to its rotational motion and is equal to ½ Iω² where ω is its angular velocity at time t.

But ω is related to the angular acceleration α₁ of the cylinder as

α₁ = dω/dt

Therefore, dω/dt = 2M₁g/ [(2M₁+M)R]

Integrating, ω =2M₁gt / [(2M₁+M)R] + C where C is the constant of integration which can be found out from the initial condition.

Initially (when t = 0) the cylinder is at rest and hence ω = 0. Substituting in the above equation we have

0 = 0 + C. Therefore C = 0 and the expression for ω becomes

ω =2M₁gt / [(2M₁+M)R]

[Since the angular acceleration is constant, you can easily obtain ω from the equation,

ω = ω₀ + αt where ω₀ = 0 and α = α₁ = 2M₁g/{(2M₁+M)R}]

Therefore, kinetic energy of cylinder = ½ Iω² = ½ ×(MR²/2) ×4M₁²g²t² / [(2M₁+M)R]².

This yields the value MM₁²g²t² / (2M₁+M)².

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Suppose you were asked to determine the kinetic energy of the mass M₁ at time t. You will then proceed as follows:

At time t the mass M₁ has kinetic energy equal to ½ M₁v² where v is the velocity acquired by it in time t while moving down with acceleration a₁. Since it started from rest we have

v = v₀ + a₁t = 0 + [2M₁g/(2M₁+M)]t

Therefore, kinetic energy of mass M₁ = ½ M₁v² = ½ ×M₁[2M₁gt /(2M₁+M)]²

This yields the value 2M₁³g²t² /(2M₁+M)²

AP Physics C – A Free Response Practice Question on Rotation

Essential points and some practice questions on rotational motion have been discussed on this site earlier. You can access all posts related to rotational motion on this site by clicking on the label ‘rotation’ below this post.

Today we will discuss a free response question (for practice) in this section. This

question is meant for AP Physics C aspirants:

A solid cylinder of mass M and radius R has a light inextensible string wound round it. The free end of the string is tied to a rigid support (Fig.) and the cylinder is released from its state of rest.

(a) Determine the acceleration ‘a’ of the cylinder as it moves down, unwinding the string.

The cylinder itself is now suspended from the support so that it is free to rotate about its axle. The friction at the axle of the cylinder is negligible. A mass M₁ is now attached to the free end of the string wound round the cylinder as shown in the adjoining figure and the system is released from rest at time t = 0. Now answer the following questions (b), (c) and (d):

(b) Determine the acceleration a₁ of the mass M₁ in terms of the given parameters.

(c) In terms of the given parameters obtain the angular acceleration of the cylinder when the mass M₁ moves down, unwinding the string.

(d) Determine the kinetic energy of the cylinder at time t.

Try to answer this question which carries 15 points. You have 15 minutes at your disposal. I’ll be back with a model answer for you shortly.

Meanwhile find some useful multiple choice questions with solution in this section at physicsplus.