<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Angular velocity of a pendulum

A pendulum in the shape of a rod ( [link] ) is released from rest at an angle of 30 ° . It has a length 30 cm and mass 300 g. What is its angular velocity at its lowest point?

Figure shows a pendulum in the form of a rod with a mass of 300 grams and length of 30 centimeters. Pendulum is released from rest at an angle of 30 degrees.
A pendulum in the form of a rod is released from rest at an angle of 30 ° .

Strategy

Use conservation of energy to solve the problem. At the point of release, the pendulum has gravitational potential energy, which is determined from the height of the center of mass above its lowest point in the swing. At the bottom of the swing, all of the gravitational potential energy is converted into rotational kinetic energy.

Solution

The change in potential energy is equal to the change in rotational kinetic energy, Δ U + Δ K = 0 .

At the top of the swing: U = m g h cm = m g L 2 ( cos θ ) . At the bottom of the swing, U = m g L 2 .

At the top of the swing, the rotational kinetic energy is K = 0 . At the bottom of the swing, K = 1 2 I ω 2 . Therefore:

Δ U + Δ K = 0 ( m g L 2 ( 1 cos θ ) 0 ) + ( 0 1 2 I ω 2 ) = 0

or

1 2 I ω 2 = m g L 2 ( 1 cos θ ) .

Solving for ω , we have

ω = m g L I ( 1 cos θ ) = m g L 1 / 3 m L 2 ( 1 cos θ ) = g 3 L ( 1 cos θ ) .

Inserting numerical values, we have

ω = 9.8 m / s 2 3 0.3 m ( 1 cos 30 ) = 3.6 rad / s .

Significance

Note that the angular velocity of the pendulum does not depend on its mass.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Summary

  • Moments of inertia can be found by summing or integrating over every ‘piece of mass’ that makes up an object, multiplied by the square of the distance of each ‘piece of mass’ to the axis. In integral form the moment of inertia is I = r 2 d m .
  • Moment of inertia is larger when an object’s mass is farther from the axis of rotation.
  • It is possible to find the moment of inertia of an object about a new axis of rotation once it is known for a parallel axis. This is called the parallel axis theorem given by I parallel-axis = I center of mass + m d 2 , where d is the distance from the initial axis to the parallel axis.
  • Moment of inertia for a compound object is simply the sum of the moments of inertia for each individual object that makes up the compound object.

Conceptual questions

If a child walks toward the center of a merry-go-round, does the moment of inertia increase or decrease?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A discus thrower rotates with a discus in his hand before letting it go. (a) How does his moment of inertia change after releasing the discus? (b) What would be a good approximation to use in calculating the moment of inertia of the discus thrower and discus?

a. It decreases. b. The arms could be approximated with rods and the discus with a disk. The torso is near the axis of rotation so it doesn’t contribute much to the moment of inertia.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Does increasing the number of blades on a propeller increase or decrease its moment of inertia, and why?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

The moment of inertia of a long rod spun around an axis through one end perpendicular to its length is m L 2 / 3 . Why is this moment of inertia greater than it would be if you spun a point mass m at the location of the center of mass of the rod (at L /2) (that would be m L 2 / 4 )?

Because the moment of inertia varies as the square of the distance to the axis of rotation. The mass of the rod located at distances greater than L /2 would provide the larger contribution to make its moment of inertia greater than the point mass at L /2.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Why is the moment of inertia of a hoop that has a mass M and a radius R greater than the moment of inertia of a disk that has the same mass and radius?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Problems

While punting a football, a kicker rotates his leg about the hip joint. The moment of inertia of the leg is 3.75 kg-m 2 and its rotational kinetic energy is 175 J. (a) What is the angular velocity of the leg? (b) What is the velocity of tip of the punter’s shoe if it is 1.05 m from the hip joint?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Using the parallel axis theorem, what is the moment of inertia of the rod of mass m about the axis shown below?

Figure shows a rod that rotates around the axis that passes through it at 1/6 of length from one end and 5/6 of length from the opposite end.

I = 7 36 m L 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the moment of inertia of the rod in the previous problem by direct integration.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A uniform rod of mass 1.0 kg and length 2.0 m is free to rotate about one end (see the following figure). If the rod is released from rest at an angle of 60 ° with respect to the horizontal, what is the speed of the tip of the rod as it passes the horizontal position?

Figure shows a rod that is released from rest at an angle of 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

v = 7.14 m / s .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A pendulum consists of a rod of mass 2 kg and length 1 m with a solid sphere at one end with mass 0.3 kg and radius 20 cm (see the following figure). If the pendulum is released from rest at an angle of 30 ° , what is the angular velocity at the lowest point?

Figure shows a pendulum that consists of a rod of mass 2 kg and length 1 m with a solid sphere at one end with mass 0.3 kg and radius 20 cm. The pendulum is released from rest at an angle of 30 degrees.
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A solid sphere of radius 10 cm is allowed to rotate freely about an axis. The sphere is given a sharp blow so that its center of mass starts from the position shown in the following figure with speed 15 cm/s. What is the maximum angle that the diameter makes with the vertical?

Left figure shows a solid sphere of radius 10 cm that first rotates freely about an axis and then received a sharp blow in its center of mass. Right figure is the image of the same sphere after the blow. An angle that the diameter makes with the vertical is marked as theta.

θ = 10.2 °

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Calculate the moment of inertia by direct integration of a thin rod of mass M and length L about an axis through the rod at L /3, as shown below. Check your answer with the parallel-axis theorem.

Figure shows a rod that rotates around the axis that passes through it at 1/3 of length from one end and 2/3 of length from the opposite end.
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

it is the relatively stable flow of income
Chidubem Reply
what is circular flow of income
Divine Reply
branches of macroeconomics
SHEDRACK Reply
what is Flexible exchang rate?
poudel Reply
is gdp a reliable measurement of wealth
Atega Reply
introduction to econometrics
Husseini Reply
Hi
mostafa
hi
LEMLEM
hello
Sammol
hi
Mahesh
bi
Ruqayat
hi
Ruqayat
Hi fellas
Nyawa
hey
Sammol
hi
God
hello
Jahara
Good morning
Jorge
hi
abubakar
hi
Nmesoma
hi
Mahesh
Hi
Tom
Why is unemployment rate never zero at full employment?
Priyanka Reply
bcoz of existence of frictional unemployment in our economy.
Umashankar
what is flexible exchang rate?
poudel
due to existence of the pple with disabilities
Abdulraufu
the demand of a good rises, causing the demand for another good to fall
Rushawn Reply
is it possible to leave every good at the same level
Joseph
I don't think so. because check it, if the demand for chicken increases, people will no longer consume fish like they used to causing a fall in the demand for fish
Anuolu
is not really possible to let the value of a goods to be same at the same time.....
Salome
Suppose the inflation rate is 6%, does it mean that all the goods you purchase will cost 6% more than previous year? Provide with reasoning.
Geetha Reply
Not necessarily. To measure the inflation rate economists normally use an averaged price index of a basket of certain goods. So if you purchase goods included in the basket, you will notice that you pay 6% more, otherwise not necessarily.
Waeth
discus major problems of macroeconomics
Alii Reply
what is the problem of macroeconomics
Yoal
Economic growth Stable prices and low unemployment
Ephraim
explain inflationcause and itis degre
Miresa Reply
what is inflation
Getu
increase in general price levels
WEETO
Good day How do I calculate this question: C= 100+5yd G= 2000 T= 2000 I(planned)=200. Suppose the actual output is 3000. What is the level of planned expenditures at this level of output?
Chisomo Reply
how to calculate actual output?
Chisomo
how to calculate the equilibrium income
Beshir
Criteria for determining money supply
Thapase Reply
who we can define macroeconomics in one line
Muhammad
Aggregate demand
Mohammed
C=k100 +9y and i=k50.calculate the equilibrium level of output
Mercy Reply
Hi
Isiaka
Hi
Geli
hy
Man
👋
Bahunda
hy how are you?
Man
ys
Amisha
how are you guys
Sekou
f9 guys
Amisha
how are you guys
Sekou
ys am also fine
Amisha
fine and you guys
Geli
from Nepal
Amisha
nawalparasi district from belatari
Amisha
nd u
Amisha
I am Camara from Guinea west Africa... happy to meet you guys here
Sekou
ma management ho
Amisha
ahile becheclor ho
Amisha
hjr ktm bta ho ani k kaam grnu hunxa tw
Amisha
belatari
Amisha
1st year ho
Amisha
nd u
Amisha
ahh
Amisha
kaha biratnagar
Amisha
ys
Amisha
kina k vo
Amisha
money as unit of account means what?
Kalombe
A unit of account is something that can be used to value goods and services and make calculations
Jim
all of you please speak in English I can't understand you're language
Muhammad
I want to know how can we define macroeconomics in one line
Muhammad
it must be .9 or 0.9 no Mpc is greater than 1 Y=100+.9Y+50 Y-.9Y=150 0.1Y/0.1=150/0.1 Y=1500
Kalombe
Mercy is it clear?😋
Kalombe
hi can someone help me on this question If a negative shocks shifts the IS curve to the left, what type of policy do you suggest so as to stabilize the level of output? discuss your answer using appropriate graph.
Galge Reply
if interest rate is increased this will will reduce the level of income shifting the curve to the left ◀️
Kalombe
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 4

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, University physics volume 1. OpenStax CNX. Sep 19, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12031/1.5
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'University physics volume 1' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask