Question

The heavier the driveshaft is, the lower its maximum ________ can be.

a) Torque
b) Inertial excitation
c) Torsional Excitation
d) Speed

Answer 1

The correct option is d) Speed. A heavier driveshaft will result in a lower maximum speed due to increased moment of inertia, which causes a decrease in angular acceleration for the same amount of torque.

Step-by-step explanation:

The heavier the driveshaft is, the lower its maximum speed can be. This is because a heavier driveshaft has a higher moment of inertia, which is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation rate. When you have a larger moment of inertia, it requires more torque to achieve the same angular acceleration compared to an object with a smaller moment of inertia. As the moment of inertia increases, the angular velocity must decrease if angular momentum is to be conserved in an isolated system.

The relationship between torque and angular acceleration indicates that for the same amount of torque, a heavier object (or one with a larger moment of inertia) will have a slower angular acceleration and therefore a lower maximum speed.