Physics 111: Mechanics
Lecture 10
Dale Gary
NJIT Physics Department
Torque, Energy and Rolling
Torque, moment of inertia
Newton 2nd law in rotation
Rotational Work
Rotational Kinetic Energy
Rotational Energy
Conservation
Rolling Motion of a Rigid
Object
October 17, 2022
Force vs. Torque
Forces cause accelerations
What cause angular accelerations ?
A door is free to rotate about an axis through O
There are three factors that determine the
effectiveness of the force in opening the door:
The magnitude of the force
The position of the application of the force
The angle at which the force is applied
October 17, 2022
Torque Definition
Torque, , is the tendency of a force to rotate
an object about some axis
Let F be a force acting on an object, and let r
be a position vector from a rotational center to
the point of application of the force, with F
perpendicular to r. The magnitude of the
torque is given by
rF
October 17, 2022
Torque Units and Direction
The SI units of torque are N.m
Torque is a vector quantity
Torque magnitude is given by
rF sin Fd
Torque will have direction
If the turning tendency of the force is counterclockwise,
the torque will be positive
If the turning tendency is clockwise, the torque will be
negative
October 17, 2022
Net Torque
The force F will tend to
1
cause a counterclockwise
rotation about O
The force F will tend to
2
cause a clockwise
rotation about O
F d – F d
1 1 2 2
If , starts rotating Rate of rotation of an
If , rotation rate object does not change,
does not change unless the object is acted
on by a net torque
October 17, 2022
General Definition of Torque
The applied force is not always perpendicular to the
position vector
The component of the force perpendicular to the
object will cause it to rotate
When the force is parallel to the position vector, no
rotation occurs
When the force is at some angle, the perpendicular
component causes the rotation
October 17, 2022
General Definition of Torque
Let F be a force acting on an object, and let r be
a position vector from a rotational center to the
point of application of the force. The magnitude
of the torque is given by
rF sin
° or °:
torque are equal to zero
° or °:magnitude of torque attain to
the maximum
October 17, 2022
Understand sinθ
The component of the force
(F cos ) has no tendency rF sin Fd
to produce a rotation
The moment arm, d, is the
perpendicular distance from
the axis of rotation to a line
drawn along the direction of
the force
d = r sin
October 17, 2022
The Swinging Door
Three forces are applied to a door, as shown in
figure. Suppose a wedge is placed 1.5 m from
the hinges on the other side of the door. What
minimum force must the wedge exert so that
the force applied won’t open the door? Assume
F1 = 150 N, F2 = 300 N, F3 = 300 N, θ = 30°
F3 F2
θ
2.0m F1
October 17, 2022
Newton’s Second Law for a
Rotating Object
When a rigid object is subject to a net torque (≠0),
it undergoes an angular acceleration
I
The angular acceleration is directly proportional to
the net torque
The angular acceleration is inversely proportional to
the moment of inertia of the object
The relationship is analogous to
F ma
October 17, 2022
Strategy to use the Newton 2nd Law
• Draw or sketch system. Adopt coordinates, indicate rotation axes, list
the known and unknown quantities, …
• Draw free body diagrams of key parts. Show forces at their points of
application. Find torques about a (common) axis
• May need to apply Second Law twice, once to each part
Note: can have
Fnet = 0
Translation: Fnet Fi ma but net ≠ 0
Rotation: net i I
• Make sure there are enough (N) equations; there may be constraint
equations (extra conditions connecting unknowns)
• Simplify and solve the set of (simultaneous) equations.
• Find unknown quantities and check answers
October 17, 2022
The Falling Object
A solid, frictionless cylindrical reel of
mass M = 2.5 kg and radius R = 0.2 m
is used to draw water from a well. A
bucket of mass m = 1.2 kg is attached
to a cord that is wrapped around the
cylinder.
(a) Find the tension T in the cord and
acceleration a of the object.
(b) If the object starts from rest at the
top of the well and falls for 3.0 s before
hitting the water, how far does it fall ?
October 17, 2022
Newton 2nd Law for Rotation
Draw free body
diagrams of each object
Only the cylinder is
rotating, so apply
= I r
The bucket is falling, but
a
not rotating, so apply
F = ma
Remember that a = r
and solve the resulting mg
equations
October 17, 2022
• Cord wrapped around disk, hanging weight
• Cord does not slip or stretch constraint
• Disk’s rotational inertia slows accelerations
• Let m = 1.2 kg, M = 2.5 kg, r =0.2 m
For mass m:
T F y ma mg T r
y
mg T m( g a ) Unknowns: T, a
a support force
at axis “O” has
FBD for disk, with axis at “o”: zero torque
1
N 0 Tr I I
2
Mr 2
Tr m( g a )r
1 2 Unknowns: a, mg
T Mg I 2
Mr
from “no
So far: 2 Equations, 3 unknowns Need a constraint: a r slipping”
Substitute and solve: assumption
2mgr 2m r 2 m 2mg mg
1 2 ( 24 rad / s 2 )
Mr 2
Mr 2 M Mr r (m M / 2)
October 17, 2022
• Cord wrapped around disk, hanging weight
• Cord does not slip or stretch constraint
• Disk’s rotational inertia slows accelerations
• Let m = 1.2 kg, M = 2.5 kg, r =0.2 m
For mass m:
T F y ma mg T
y
r
mg T m( g a ) Unknowns: T, a
support force
at axis “O” has
mg
( 24 rad/s 2 ) a zero torque
r (m M / 2)
mg
a ( 4.8 m/s 2 )
(m M / 2)
T m( g a ) 1.2(9.8 4.8) 6 N mg
1 1
x f xi vi t at 2 0 (4.8 m/s2 )(3 s)2 21.6 m
2 2
October 17, 2022
Rotational Kinetic Energy
An object rotating about z axis with an angular
speed, ω, has rotational kinetic energy
The total rotational kinetic energy of the rigid
object is the sum of the energies of all its
particles
1
K R K i mi ri 2 2
i i 2
1 2 2 1 2
K R mi ri I
2 i 2
Where I is called the moment of inertia
Unit of rotational kinetic energy is Joule (J)
October 17, 2022
Work-Energy Theorem for pure
Translational motion
The work-energy theorem tells us
1 2 1 2
Wnet KE KE f KEi mv f mvi
2 2
Kinetic energy is for point mass only, ignoring
rotation.
Work Wnet dW F d s
Power dW ds
P F F v
dt dt
October 17, 2022
Mechanical Energy Conservation
Energy conservation
Wnc K U
When Wnc = 0,
K f U f U i Ki
The total mechanical energy is conserved and remains
the same at all times
1 2 1 2
mvi mgyi mv f mgy f
2 2
Remember, this is for conservative forces, no
dissipative forces such as friction can be present
October 17, 2022
Total Energy of a System
A ball is rolling down a ramp
Described by three types of energy
Gravitational potential energy
U Mgh
Translational kinetic energy 1 2
Kt MvCM
2
1 2
Rotational kinetic energy K r I
2
Total energy of a system 1 2 1 2
E MvCM Mgh I
2 2
October 17, 2022
Work done by a pure rotation
Apply force F to mass at point r,
causing rotation-only about axis
Find the work done by F applied to
the object at P as it rotates through
an infinitesimal distance ds
dW F d s F cos(90 ) ds
F sin ds Fr sin d
Only transverse component of F
does work – the same component
that contributes to torque dW d
October 17, 2022
Work-Kinetic Theorem pure rotation
As object rotates from i to f , work done by the
torque f f f f f
d
W dW d Id I d Id
i i i i dt i
I is constant for rigid object
f f
1 2 1 2
W Id I d I f Ii
i i
2 2
Power dW d
P
dt dt
October 17, 2022
An motor attached to a grindstone exerts a constant torque
of 10 N-m. The moment of inertia of the grindstone is I = 2
kg-m2. The system starts from rest.
Find the kinetic energy after 8 s
1 2
K f I f 1600 J f i t 40 rad/s 5 rad/s 2
2 I
Find the work done by the motor during this time
f
W d ( f i ) 10 160 1600 J
i
1 1 1
( f i ) i t t 2 160 rad W K f K i I 2f I i2 1600 J
2 2 2
Find the average power delivered by the motor
dW 1600
Pavg 200 watts
dt 8
Find the instantaneous power at t = 8 s
P 10 40 400 watts
October 17, 2022
Work-Energy Theorem
For pure translation
1 1
Wnet K cm K cm, f K cm,i mv 2f mvi2
2 2
For pure rotation
1 2 1 2
Wnet K rot K rot , f K rot ,i I f I i
2 2
Rolling: pure rotation + pure translation
Wnet K total ( K rot , f K cm, f ) ( K rot ,i K cm ,i )
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
I f mv f I i mvi
2 2 2 2
October 17, 2022
Energy Conservation
Energy conservation
Wnc Ktotal U
When Wnc = 0,
K rot , f K cm, f U f K rot ,i K cm ,i U i
The total mechanical energy is conserved and remains
the same at all times
1 2 1 2 1 1
Ii mvi mgyi I 2f mv 2f mgy f
2 2 2 2
Remember, this is for conservative forces, no
dissipative forces such as friction can be present
October 17, 2022
Total Energy of a Rolling
System
A ball is rolling down a ramp
Described by three types of energy
Gravitational potential energy
U Mgh
Translational kinetic energy
1
K t Mv 2
2
Rotational kinetic energy
1
K r I 2
2
Total energy of a system 1 2 1 2
E Mv Mgh I
2 2
October 17, 2022
Problem Solving Hints
Choose two points of interest
One where all the necessary information is given
The other where information is desired
Identify the conservative and non-conservative
forces
Write the general equation for the Work-Energy
theorem if there are non-conservative forces
Use Conservation of Energy if there are no non-
conservative forces
Use v = r to combine terms
Solve for the unknown
October 17, 2022
A Ball Rolling Down an Incline
A ball of mass M and radius R starts from rest at a
height of h and rolls down a 30slope, what is the
linear speed of the ball when it leaves the incline?
Assume that the ball rolls without slipping.
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
mvi mgyi Ii mv f mgy f I f
2 2 2 2
1 2 1 2
0 Mgh 0 Mv f 0 I f
2 2
2 2
vf
I MR f
5 R
2
1 2 12 v f 1 2 1 2 10 1/ 2
Mgh Mv f MR 2 2 Mv f Mv f v f ( gh)
2 25 R 2 5 7
October 17, 2022
Rotational Work and Energy
A ball rolls without slipping down incline A,
starting from rest. At the same time, a box
starts from rest and slides down incline B,
which is identical to incline A except that it
is frictionless. Which arrives at the bottom
first?
Ball rolling:
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
mvi mgyi Ii mv f mgy f I f
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 12 7
mgh mv f 2 I f 2 mv f 2 mR 2 (v f / R) 2 mv f 2
2 2 2 25 10
Box sliding 1 2 1 2
mvi mgyi mv f mgy f
2 2
1 7
sliding: mgh mv f 2 rolling: mgh mv f 2
2 10
October 17, 2022
Blocks and Pulley
Two blocks having different masses m1 and
m2 are connected by a string passing over a
pulley. The pulley has a radius R and
moment of inertia I about its axis of
rotation. The string does not slip on the
pulley, and the system is released from rest.
Find the translational speeds of the blocks
after block 2 descends through a distance h.
Find the angular speed of the pulley at that
time.
October 17, 2022
Find the translational speeds of the blocks after block
2 descends through a distance h.
K rot , f K cm , f U f K rot ,i K cm ,i U i
1 2 1 2 1 2
( m1v f m2 v f I f ) (m1 gh m2 gh) 0 0 0
2 2 2
1 I
(m1 m2 2 )v 2f m2 gh m1 gh
2 R
1/ 2
2(m2 m1 ) gh
vf 2
m
1 m2 I / R
Find the angular speed of the pulley at that time.
1/ 2
vf 1 2(m2 m1 ) gh
f
R R m1 m2 I / R 2
October 17, 2022