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A merry-go-round of mass M = 90.0 kg and radius R = 2.40 m is rotating freely at a rate of 3 revolutions per second about a frictionless vertical axle. Two stones, each initially at rest and with a mass m = 45.0 kg, are dropped on opposite sides of the merry-goround, each at a radius of = 1.20 m. What is the final angular velocity?

1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:To solve this problem, we can use the conservation of angular momentum. The total angular momentum before the stones are dropped must equal the total angular momentum after they are dropped.

The formula for angular momentum (

L) is given by:

=

L=Iω

where:

L is the angular momentum,

I is the moment of inertia, and

ω is the angular velocity.

For a rotating object like the merry-go-round, the moment of inertia is given by:

=

2

I=mr

2

where:

m is the mass of the object, and

r is the radius.

The angular velocity (

ω) is related to the linear velocity (

v) by:

=

ω=

r

v

Now, let's calculate the angular momentum before and after the stones are dropped.

Initial Angular Momentum (

initial

L

initial

):

The merry-go-round is initially rotating freely. The total initial angular momentum (

initial

L

initial

) is the sum of the angular momentum of the merry-go-round and the stones.

For the merry-go-round:

merry-go-round, initial

=

merry-go-round

initial, merry-go-round

L

merry-go-round, initial

=I

merry-go-round

ω

initial, merry-go-round

=

(

2

)

initial, merry-go-round

=(MR

2

initial, merry-go-round

For each stone:

stone, initial

=

stone

initial, stone

L

stone, initial

=I

stone

ω

initial, stone

=

(

2

)

initial, stone

=(mr

2

initial, stone

Since the stones are initially at rest,

initial, stone

=

0

ω

initial, stone

=0, and their initial angular momentum is zero.

So, the total initial angular momentum is just the angular momentum of the merry-go-round:

initial

=

merry-go-round, initial

L

initial

=L

merry-go-round, initial

Final Angular Momentum (

final

L

final

):

After the stones are dropped, the merry-go-round and the stones have a final angular velocity (

final

ω

final

). The total final angular momentum (

final

L

final

) is the sum of the angular momentum of the merry-go-round and the stones.

For the merry-go-round:

merry-go-round, final

=

merry-go-round

final, merry-go-round

L

merry-go-round, final

=I

merry-go-round

ω

final, merry-go-round

=

(

2

)

final, merry-go-round

=(MR

2

final, merry-go-round

For each stone:

stone, final

=

stone

final, stone

L

stone, final

=I

stone

ω

final, stone

=

(

2

)

final, stone

=(mr

2

final, stone

Now, we use the conservation of angular momentum, setting the initial angular momentum equal to the final angular momentum:

initial

=

final

L

initial

=L

final

merry-go-round, initial

=

merry-go-round, final

L

merry-go-round, initial

=L

merry-go-round, final

(

2

)

initial, merry-go-round

=

(

2

)

final, merry-go-round

+

2

(

2

)

final, stone

(MR

2

initial, merry-go-round

=(MR

2

final, merry-go-round

+2(mr

2

final, stone

Now, we can substitute the known values and solve for

final, merry-go-round

ω

final, merry-go-round

.

Given:

=

90.0

kg

M=90.0kg (mass of merry-go-round)

=

2.40

m

R=2.40m (radius of merry-go-round)

initial, merry-go-round

=

2

×

3

rad/s

ω

initial, merry-go-round

=2π×3rad/s (initial angular velocity of merry-go-round)

=

45.0

kg

m=45.0kg (mass of each stone)

=

1.20

m

r=1.20m (radius where stones are dropped)

Now, substitute these values into the equation and solve for

final, merry-go-round

ω

final, merry-go-round

.

(

2

)

initial, merry-go-round

=

(

2

)

final, merry-go-round

+

2

(

2

)

final, stone

(MR

2

initial, merry-go-round

=(MR

2

final, merry-go-round

+2(mr

2

final, stone

Given values:

(

90.0

kg

×

(

2.40

m

)

2

)

×

(

2

×

3

rad/s

)

=

(

90.0

kg

×

(

2.40

m

)

2

)

×

final, merry-go-round

+

2

×

(

45.0

kg

×

(

1.20

m

)

2

)

×

final, stone

(90.0kg×(2.40m)

2

)×(2π×3rad/s)=(90.0kg×(2.40m)

2

)×ω

final, merry-go-round

+2×(45.0kg×(1.20m)

2

)×ω

final, stone

Now, let's calculate:

(

90.0

kg

×

(

2.40

m

)

2

)

×

(

2

×

3

rad/s

)

(90.0kg×(2.40m)

2

)×(2π×3rad/s)

3250.94

kg

m

2

/

s

≈3250.94kgm

2

/s

2

×

(

45.0

kg

×

(

1.20

m

)

2

)

×

final, stone

2×(45.0kg×(1.20m)

2

)×ω

final, stone

=

2

×

(

45.0

kg

×

1.44

m

2

)

×

final, stone

=2×(45.0kg×1.44m

2

)×ω

final, stone

=

129.6

kg

m

2

/

s

×

final, stone

=129.6kgm

2

/s×ω

final, stone

Now, subtract the term with

final, stone

ω

final, stone

from the total initial angular momentum:

(

3250.94

kg

m

2

/

s

)

(

129.6

kg

m

2

/

s

)

×

final, stone

=

(

90.0

kg

×

(

2.40

m

)

2

)

×

final, merry-go-round

(3250.94kgm

2

/s)−(129.6kgm

2

/s)×ω

final, stone

=(90.0kg×(2.40m)

2

)×ω

final, merry-go-round

Now, solve for

final, merry-go-round

ω

final, merry-go-round

:

final, merry-go-round

(

3250.94

kg

m

2

/

s

)

(

129.6

kg

m

2

/

s

)

×

final, stone

90.0

kg

×

(

2.40

m

)

2

ω

final, merry-go-round

90.0kg×(2.40m)

2

(3250.94kgm

2

/s)−(129.6kgm

2

/s)×ω

final, stone

Calculate this expression to find the final angular velocity (

final, merry-go-round

ω

final, merry-go-round

).

Note: Make sure to convert revolutions per second to radians per second by multiplying by

2

2π, as used in the formula for angular velocity.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Morgler
by
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