Question

A man, holding a weight in each hand, stands at the center of a horizontal frictionless rotating turntable. The effect of the weights is to double the rotational inertia of the system. As he is rotating, the man opens his hands and drops the two weights. They fall outside the turntable. Then:

Answer 1

w = 2w₀ the angular velocity of man doubles

Step-by-step explanation:

In this exercise, releasing the weights reduces the moment of inertia

I= I₀ / 2

Therefore, since the platform system plus man is isolated, the kinetic moment must be conserved

L₀ = L

I₀ w₀ = I w

I₀ w₀ = I₀ / 2 w

w = 2w₀

therefore the angular velocity of man doubles