Question

Assume you are going to race the three objects (hollow sphere, disk and ring used in Experiment 8.2) by releasing them from rest at the top of an inclined plane.Which object do you expect to reach the bottom of the inclined plan first? Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

a. The disk

b. Because it has the smallest rotational inertia

Explanation:

a. Which object do you expect to reach the bottom of the inclined plan first?

I would expect the disk to reach the bottom first.

b. Why?

This is because the disk has the smallest rotational inertia.

The rotational inertial of the hollow sphere, disk and ring are 2/3MR², 1/2MR² and MR² respectively.

Since the three objects are rolling from the same height, they have the same mechanical energy.

But, since the disk has the smallest rotational inertia, it would have the smallest rotational kinetic energy and largest translational kinetic energy.  The disk's smaller rotational kinetic energy will cause  to rotate less but translate more than the other objects and thus reach the bottom first.