Question

Consider two sizes of disk, both of mass M. One size of disk has radius R; the other has radius 4R. System A consists of two of the larger disks rigidly connected to each other with a common axis of rotation. System B consists of one of the larger disks and a number of the smaller disks rigidly connected with a common axis of rotation. If the moment of inertia for system A equals the moment of inertia for system B, how many of the smaller disks are in system B?

Answer 1

4 smaller disks

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given;

Mass of smaller and larger disks = M

Radius of smaller disk = R

Radius of larger disk = 4R

Formula for moment of inertia about cylinder axis is:

I = ½MR²

Thus;

For small disk, I_small = ½MR²

For large disk, I_large = ½M(2R)² = 2MR²

We are told that moment of inertia of System A consists of two of the larger disks. Thus;

I_A = 2 × I_large = 2 × 2MR²

I_A = 4MR²

We are also told that System B consists of one of the larger disks and a number of the smaller disks. Thus;

I_B = I_large + n(I_small)

Where n is the number of smaller disks.

I_B = 2MR² + n(½MR²)

I_B = MR²(2 + n/2)

We are told that the moment of inertia for system A equals the moment of inertia for system B. Thus;

I_A = I_B

So;

4MR² = MR²(2 + n/2)

MR² will cancel out to give;

4 = 2 + n/2

Multiply through by 2 to give;

8 = 4 + n

n = 8 - 4

n = 4