IB Physics: Question Book

A.4: Rigid bodies AHL

Name:

Physics class:

1
1a. [1 mark]
A flywheel is made of a solid disk with a mass M of 5.00 kg mounted on a small radial
axle. The mass of the axle is negligible. The radius R of the disk is 6.00 cm and the
radius r of the axle is 1.20 cm.

A string of negligible thickness is wound around the axle. The string is pulled by an
electric motor that exerts a vertical tension force T on the flywheel. The diagram
shows the forces acting on the flywheel. W is the weight and N is the normal
reaction force from the support of the flywheel.

The moment of inertia of the flywheel about the axis is = .

State the torque provided by the force W about the axis of the flywheel.

2
1b. [1 mark]
The flywheel is initially at rest. At time t = 0 the motor is switched on and a time-
varying tension force acts on the flywheel. The torque exerted on the flywheel by
the tension force in the string varies with t as shown on the graph.

Identify the physical quantity represented by the area under the graph.

1c. [2 marks]
Show that the angular velocity of the flywheel at t = 5.00 s is 200 rad s–1.

3
1d. [1 mark]
Calculate the maximum tension in the string.

1e. [2 marks]
At t = 5.00 s the string becomes fully unwound and it disconnects from the flywheel.
The flywheel remains spinning around the axle.
The flywheel is in translational equilibrium. Distinguish between translational
equilibrium and rotational equilibrium.

1f. [3 marks]
At t = 5.00 s the flywheel is spinning with angular velocity 200 rad s –1. The support
bearings exert a constant frictional torque on the axle. The flywheel comes to rest
after 8.00 × 103 revolutions. Calculate the magnitude of the frictional torque exerted
on the flywheel.

4
2a. [1 mark]
A uniform ladder of weight 50.0 N and length 4.00 m is placed against a frictionless
wall making an angle of 60.0° with the ground.

Outline why the normal force acting on the ladder at the point of contact with the
wall is equal to the frictional force F between the ladder and the ground.

Many candidates stated that the resultant of all forces must be zero but failed to
mention the fact that horizontal forces must balance in this particular question.
2b. [2 marks]
Calculate F.

Very few candidates could take moments about any point and correct answers were
rare both at SL and HL.

5
2c. [2 marks]
The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the ground is 0.400. Determine
whether the ladder will slip.

The question about the slipping of the ladder was poorly answered. The fact that the
normal reaction on the floor was 50N was not known to many.
3a. [2 marks]

The moment of inertia of a solid sphere is = where m is the mass of the

sphere and r is the radius.
Show that the total kinetic energy Ek of the sphere when it rolls, without slipping, at
speed v is = .

6
3b. [3 marks]
A solid sphere of mass 1.5 kg is rolling, without slipping, on a horizontal surface
with a speed of 0.50 m s-1. The sphere then rolls, without slipping, down a ramp to
reach a horizontal surface that is 45 cm lower.

Calculate the speed of the sphere at the bottom of the ramp.

7
4a. [2 marks]
A uniform rod of weight 36.0 N and length 5.00 m rests horizontally. The rod is
pivoted at its left-hand end and is supported at a distance of 4.00 m from the
frictionless pivot.

Calculate the force the support exerts on the rod.

4b. [2 marks]
The support is suddenly removed and the rod begins to rotate clockwise about
the pivot point. The moment of inertia of the rod about the pivot point is 30.6 kg m 2.
Calculate, in rad s–2, the initial angular acceleration of the rod.

8
4c. [2 marks]
After time t the rod makes an angle θ with the horizontal. Outline why the equation
= cannot be used to find the time it takes θ to become (that is for the rod
to become vertical for the first time).

4d. [3 marks]
At the instant the rod becomes vertical show that the angular speed is ω =
2.43 rad s–1.

4e. [1 mark]
At the instant the rod becomes vertical calculate the angular momentum of the rod.

9
5a. [2 marks]
A constant force of 50.0 N is applied tangentially to the outer edge of a merry-go-
round. The following diagram shows the view from above.

The merry-go-round has a moment of inertia of 450 kg m2 about a vertical axis. The
merry-go-round has a diameter of 4.00 m.
Show that the angular acceleration of the merry-go-round is 0.2 rad s–2.

10
5b. [1 mark]
The merry-go-round starts from rest and the force is applied for one complete
revolution.
Calculate, for the merry-go-round after one revolution, the angular speed.

5c. [1 mark]
Calculate, for the merry-go-round after one revolution, the angular momentum.

5d. [2 marks]
A child of mass 30.0 kg is now placed onto the edge of the merry-go-round. No
external torque acts on the system.
Calculate the new angular speed of the rotating system.

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5e. [2 marks]
The child now moves towards the centre.
Explain why the angular speed will increase.

5f. [2 marks]
Calculate the work done by the child in moving from the edge to the centre.

12
A.4: Rigid bodies AHL answers
1a. [1 mark]
zero ✔
1b. [1 mark]
«change in» angular momentum ✔
NOTE: Allow angular impulse.
1c. [2 marks]
use of L = lω = area under graph = 1.80 «kg m2 s–1» ✔

rearranges «to give ω= area/I» 1.80 = 0.5 × 5.00 × 0.0602 × ω ✔

«to get ω = 200 rad s–1 »

1d. [1 mark]

✔
.
<< .
=>> 33.3

1e. [2 marks]
translational equilibrium is when the sum of all the forces on a body is zero ✔

rotational equilibrium is when the sum of all the torques on a body is zero ✔
1f. [3 marks]
ALTERNATIVE 1
0 = 200 + 2 × × 2 × 8000 ✔
=<< −>> 0.398 << >> ✔
torque = = 0.398 × (0.5 × 5.00 × 0.060 ) = 3.58 × 10 << >> ✔

ALTERNATIVE 2
change in kinetic energy =<< −>> 0.5 × (0.5 × 5.00 × 0.060 ) × 200 =<< −>> 180 <
< >> ✔
identifies work done = change in KE ✔

torque = = ×
= 3.58 × 10 << >>✔

1
2a. [1 mark]
«translational equilibrium demands that the» resultant force in the horizontal direction
must be zero✔

«hence NW = F»
Equality of forces is given, look for reason why.
2b. [2 marks]
«clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments»

50 × 2cos 60 = NW × 4sin 60 ✔
×
« = = »

F = 14.4«N» ✔
2c. [2 marks]
maximum friction force = «0.4 × 50N» = 20«N» ✔

14.4 < 20 AND so will not slip ✔

3a. [2 marks]
Ek = Ek linear + Ek rotational
OR

= + ✔

= + × × ✔

«= »

Answer is given in the question so check working is correct at each stage.

3b. [3 marks]

Initial = × 1.50 × 0.5 «=0.26J» ✔

Final = 0.26 + 1.5 × 9.81 × 0.45 «=6.88J» ✔

2
 =>> 2.56 «m s–1» ✔
.
=<< × .

Other solution methods are possible.

4a. [2 marks]
taking torques about the pivot R × 4.00 = 36.0 × 2.5 ✔
R = 22.5 «N» ✔
4b. [2 marks]
36.0 × 2.50 = 30.6 × ✔

= 2.94 «rad s–2» ✔

4c. [2 marks]
the equation can be applied only when the angular acceleration is constant ✔
any reasonable argument that explains torque is not constant, giving non constant
acceleration ✔

4d. [3 marks]
of energy» Change in GPE = Change in rotational KE ✔

= ✔

✔
. × .
= .

«ω = 2.4254 rad s–1»

4e. [1 mark]
L = 30.6 × 2.43 = 74.4 «J s» ✔
5a. [2 marks]
Γ «= Fr = 50 × 2» = 100 «Nm»

α«= = » =0.22 «rads–2»

3
Final value to at least 2 sig figs, OR clear working with substitution required for mark.
[2 marks]
5b. [1 mark]
« − =2 »
« − 0 = 2 × 0.22 × 2 »
= 1.7 «rads–1»

Accept BCA, values in the range: 1.57 to 1.70.

[1 mark]
5c. [1 mark]
«L = Iω = 450 × 1.66»
= 750 «kgm2 rads–1»

Accept BCA, values in the range: 710 to 780.

[1 mark]
5d. [2 marks]
«I = 450 + mr2»
I «= 450 + 30 × 22» = 570 «kgm2»
«L = 570 × ω = 747»
ω = 1.3 «rads–1»
Watch for ECF from (a) and (b).
Accept BCA, values in the range: 1.25 to 1.35.
[2 marks]
5e. [2 marks]
moment of inertia will decrease
angular momentum will be constant «as the system is isolated»
«so the angular speed will increase»
[2 marks]

4
5f. [2 marks]
ωt = 1.66 from bi AND W = ΔEk

W = × 450 × 1.662 – × 570 × 1.312 = 131 «J»

ECF from 8bi

Accept BCA, value depends on the answers in previous questions.
[2 marks]