Ch. 10.

Rotational Motion recommended problems and solutions

[Prob. 17]
A compact discs rotation varies from about 190 rpm to 480 rpm. If the disc plays for 76 min,
whats the average angular acceleration in (a) rpm/s and (b) rad/s2?
[Sol. 17]
(a) The average angular acceleration can be obtained as,

= =

For i = 190 rpm, f = 480 rpm, t = 76 60 s,
(480 190) rpm
= = 0.064 rpm/s
76 60 s

(b) 1 revolution means 2 rad, so 1 rpm means 2 rad per 60 s.

2
= 0.064 rpms = 0.064 rads2 = 0.0067 rads2
60

[Prob. 33]
At the MIT Magnet Laboratory, energy is stored in huge solid flywheels of mass 7.7 102
kg and radius 2.4 m. The flywheels ride on shafts 41 cm in diameter. If a fictional force of 34
kN acts tangentially on the shaft, how long will it take the flywheel to come to a stop from its
usual 360-rpm rotation rate?
[Sol. 33]
The inertia of a solid disk with mass M and radius R is
1
I = 2
2
The frictional force is acting on a point r = d/2 = 0.205 m apart from the center. Therefore, the
generated torque is,
= fr
This torque generates negative angular acceleration .
fr
= =
I 1 2
2 MR
Also can be expressed as,

= =

Finally we can obtain the time t,
1
(f i ) ( MR2 )
t = 2
fr
2 1
(360 60 rads) (2 (7.7 104 kg) (2.4 m)2 )
=
(34000 N) (0.205 m)

= 1.2 103

[Prob. 37]
(a) Find the energy stored in the flywheel of Prob. 33 when its rotating at 360 rpm. (b) The
wheel is attached to an electric generator and the rotation rate drops from 360 rpm to 300 rpm
in 3.0 s. Whats the average power output?
[Sol. 37]
(a) The rotational kinetic energy stored can be obtained as,
2
1 2 1 2 2
1 4 2
2
K rot = I = MR = (7.7 10 kg) (2.4 m) (360 rads)
2 4 4 60

K rot = 160 MJ

(b) The lost energy from the wheel should be converted to the electric energy E,
1
K rot = (K f K i ) = I(2f 2i ) = E
2
The average power output can be obtained as,
1 2 2
E 2 I(f i )
Pavg = =
t t
2 2
1 1 2 2
2 2 (7.7 104 kg) (2.4 m)2 [(300 60 rads) (360 60 rads) ]
=
(3.0 s)

Pavg = 16 MW
[Prob. 47]
Full-circle rotation is common in mechanical systems, but less evident in biology. Yet many
single-celled organisms are propelled by spinning, tail-like flagella. The flagellum of the
bacterium E. coli spins at some 650 rad/s, propelling the bacterium at speeds around 25 m/s.
How many revolutions does E. colis flagellum make as the bacterium crosses a microscopes
field of view, which is 150-m wide.
[Sol. 47]
The time it takes for the bacterium crosses the microscopes field of view can be calculated as,
d
t =
v
The amount of angle change of the flagellum during that time can be obtained as,
d
= t =
v
Finally we can get the revolution amount R,
d (650 rads) (150 m)
R= = =
2 2v (2 radrevolution) (25 ms)

R = 620 revoltions

[Prob. 65]
A disk of radius R has an initial mass M. Then a hole of radius R/4 is drilled, with its edge at
the disk center (Fig. 10.29). Find the new rotational inertia about the central axis. (Hint: Find
the rotational inertia of the missing piece, and subtract it from that of the whole disk. Youll
find the parallel-axis theorem helpful)
[Sol. 65]
Let I1 be the inertia of the disk before it is drilled,
1
I1 = 2
2
Let I2 be the inertia of the whole disk assume that it is real, and according to the parallel-axis
theorem,
3
I2 = I3 + Md2 = 2
32
1 1 2 1 1
where I3 = M ( R) = MR2 , and d = R.
2 4 32 4

Then we can obtain the final inertia of the disk as,

1 3
Idisk = I1 I2 = MR2 MR2
2 32

13
Idisk = MR2
32