Question

A 0.22-kg gerbil runs in place with a linear speed of 0.40 m/s on an exercise wheel that is shaped like a hoop and has a radius of 9 cm and a mass of 5.5 g. Find the angular momentum of the wheel after the gerbil jumps off the wheel and keeps running with the same speed of 0.40 m/s. Note that the angular momentum of the gerbil can be calculated by mvl, where l is the moment arm, the perpendicular distance from the center of the wheel to the extended line of the gerbil’s velocity vector.

Answer 1

The student's question involves calculating the angular momentum of an exercise wheel after a gerbil jumps off, utilizing the conservation of angular momentum principles in physics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the angular momentum of an exercise wheel after a gerbil jumps off and continues to run with the same speed. Since the angular momentum is conserved when there are no external torques, we can calculate the initial angular momentum of the wheel with the gerbil on it and then equate it to the final angular momentum of the wheel when the gerbil jumps off. The question essentially seeks to apply the principles of rotational dynamics and angular momentum conservation.