Question

Which rolls down an inclined plane faster, a hollow cylinder or a solid sphere? Both have the same mass and radius.

a) Hollow cylinder.
b) Solid sphere.
c) Same speed.
d) Depends on the incline angle.

Answer 1

The hollow cylinder and the solid sphere will roll down the incline at the same speed.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this case, both the hollow cylinder and the solid sphere will roll down the incline at the same speed. When an object rolls without slipping down an incline, the speed is determined by the objects' moments of inertia, which depend on the mass distribution.

For a solid sphere and a hollow cylinder with the same mass and radius, their moments of inertia are equal. Therefore, they will have the same speed when rolling down the incline.

The answer is c) Same speed.