Rigid-body rotation worksheet with answers

Free printable Rigid-body rotation worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
Or = 0.25 mL = 1 m1.25 m4 kg5 kg

A pendulum is made of a uniform slender rod (4 kg, 1 m long) pivoted at its top end O, with a solid sphere of mass 5 kg and radius 0.25 m fixed to its lower end. The centre of the sphere is 1.25 m below O. Find the mass moment of inertia IO of the pendulum about O.

mrod = 4 kgL = 1 mmsphere = 5 kgr = 0.25 md = 1.25 m
IO = kg·m²
2.Easy
Or = 0.25 mL = 0.4 m0.65 m2 kg2.5 kg

A pendulum is made of a uniform slender rod (2 kg, 0.4 m long) pivoted at its top end O, with a solid sphere of mass 2.5 kg and radius 0.25 m fixed to its lower end. The centre of the sphere is 0.65 m below O. Find the mass moment of inertia IO of the pendulum about O.

mrod = 2 kgL = 0.4 mmsphere = 2.5 kgr = 0.25 md = 0.65 m
IO = kg·m²
3.Medium
n = 1000 rpmP = 48.5 kW

A shaft transmits 48.5 kW at 1000 rpm. Find the torque T in the shaft.

P = 48.5 kWn = 1000 rpm
T = N·m
4.Medium
L = 1.3 mm = 10 kgα

A uniform slender rod of mass 10 kg and length 1.3 m is pinned at one end and held horizontal. It is released from rest. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find its angular acceleration α just after release.

m = 10 kgL = 1.3 mg = 9.81 m/s²
α = rad/s²
5.Hard
θ = 35°a

A solid sphere rolls without slipping down a slope inclined at 35° to the horizontal. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the smallest coefficient of static friction μs that prevents it from slipping.

θ = 35°I = (2/5)·m·r²g = 9.81 m/s²
μs =
6.Hard
θ = 10°as = 3 m

A thin hoop rolls without slipping down a slope inclined at 10° to the horizontal. Use g = 9.81 m/s². It starts from rest. How long t does it take to roll 3 m down the slope?

θ = 10°I = m·r²g = 9.81 m/s²s = 3 m
t = s

Answer key

  1. 1. IO = 9.271 kg·m²
  2. 2. IO = 1.225 kg·m²
  3. 3. T = 463.1 N·m
  4. 4. α = 11.32 rad/s²
  5. 5. μs = 0.2001
  6. 6. t = 2.654 s

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