Question

Suppose there is a constant friction in the bearings of the axle.

a. Would this tend to make your experimental value of the axle, (I_A), too small or too large?
b. If the friction drag is unchanged for the measurement of the axle-wheel combination, (I_WA), would it affect the result of the wheel alone? Explain.

Answer 1

Constant friction in the bearings of the axle would make the experimental value of the axle too large. The friction in the bearings does not affect the result of the wheel alone.

Step-by-step explanation:

a. If there is constant friction in the bearings of the axle, it would tend to make the experimental value of the axle, (I_A), too large. This is because the friction in the bearings would resist the rotation of the axle, making it harder to turn and resulting in a larger moment of inertia.

b. If the friction drag is unchanged for the measurement of the axle-wheel combination, (I_WA), it would not affect the result of the wheel alone. This is because the friction in the bearings only affects the rotation of the axle, not the rotation of the wheel itself. The moment of inertia for the wheel alone would remain the same.