Worksheet: Rotational Mechanics (Class 11)

Instructions: Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your understanding.
Show all your work for numerical problems. Use appropriate units for all answers.

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

1. Which of the following is the rotational analogue of force? a) Angular velocity b)

Torque c) Moment of inertia d) Angular momentum
2. The moment of inertia of a body depends on: a) Its angular velocity b) Its angular
acceleration c) Distribution of mass relative to the axis of rotation d) The applied
torque
3. If no external torque acts on a system, its angular momentum: a) Increases b)
Decreases c) Remains constant d) Becomes zero
4. The dimensions of torque are the same as those of: a) Work b) Force c) Power d)
Momentum
5. A solid sphere and a hollow sphere of the same mass and radius are rolled down an
inclined plane from rest. Which one will reach the bottom first? a) Solid sphere b)
Hollow sphere c) Both will reach at the same time d) Cannot be determined

Section B: True or False (1 mark each)

1. Angular displacement is a vector quantity. (True/False)

2. The center of mass of a body always lies within the body. (True/False)
3. For a rigid body, all particles have the same angular velocity. (True/False)
4. Rotational kinetic energy of a body is given by 21Iω2. (True/False)
5. Rolling without slipping is a combination of translational and rotational motion.
(True/False)

Section C: Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

1. Define torque and state its S.I. unit.

2. What is the physical significance of the moment of inertia?
3. State the law of conservation of angular momentum.
4. Differentiate between radius of gyration and moment of inertia.
5. Why is it easier to balance a bicycle in motion than at rest?

Section D: Conceptual and Application Questions (3 marks each)

1. Explain the concept of center of mass. For what kind of systems is it a useful concept?
2. Derive the relationship between torque (τ), moment of inertia (I), and angular
acceleration (α).
3. A person standing on a rotating platform stretches out his arms. Explain what happens
to his angular speed and why, assuming no external torque acts on the system.

Section E: Numerical Problems (5 marks each)

1. A solid cylinder of mass 20 kg and radius 0.5 m is rotating about its own axis with an
angular speed of 10 rad/s. a) Calculate its moment of inertia. b) Find its rotational
 kinetic energy. c) If a constant tangential force of 50 N is applied to its surface for 2 s,
what will be its new angular speed? (Assume the force helps in increasing the angular
speed)
2. A uniform rod of mass 2 kg and length 1 m is pivoted at one end. A particle of mass
0.5 kg is attached to the free end. The rod is released from rest in a horizontal
position. a) Calculate the moment of inertia of the rod-particle system about the pivot.
(Moment of inertia of a rod about one end is ML2/3) b) Find the initial angular
acceleration of the system. c) What is the angular speed of the rod when it reaches the
vertical position?

Answer Key (For Teacher's Use)

Section A:

1. b)
2. c)
3. c)
4. a)
5. a)

Section B:

1. True (It's a pseudo-vector)

2. False (e.g., center of mass of a ring or hollow sphere)
3. True (for a rigid body)
4. True
5. True

Section C:

1. Torque (τ): The rotational analogue of force. It is the turning effect of a force about
an axis of rotation. Mathematically, it is the cross product of the position vector (r)
from the axis of rotation to the point of application of the force and the force vector
(F).

τ=r×F

S.I. Unit: Newton-meter (N m).

2. Physical significance of Moment of Inertia (I): It is a measure of a body's resistance

to angular acceleration. Just as mass resists linear acceleration, moment of inertia
resists rotational acceleration. A body with a larger moment of inertia requires a
greater torque to achieve a given angular acceleration. It depends on the mass and its
distribution relative to the axis of rotation.
3. Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum: If no external torque acts on a
system, the total angular momentum of the system remains constant.

If ∑τext=0, then dtdL=0⇒L=constant

This means I1ω1=I2ω2.

 4. Radius of Gyration (k): It is the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to a
point where if the entire mass of the body were concentrated, its moment of inertia
about that axis would be the same as the actual moment of inertia of the body.

I=Mk2

Moment of Inertia (I): It is the sum of the products of the mass of each particle and
the square of its perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation.

I=∑miri2

Radius of gyration is a property related to the distribution of mass, while moment of

inertia is the actual measure of rotational inertia.

5. When a bicycle is in motion, its wheels possess significant angular momentum. Due
to the conservation of angular momentum, any small external torque (like a slight tilt)
will cause a precession (a rotation of the axis of rotation), rather than an immediate
fall. This precession helps the rider to make small adjustments to maintain balance.
When at rest, there's no angular momentum to provide this stabilizing effect.

Section D:

1. Center of Mass (CM): The center of mass of a system of particles is a point where
the entire mass of the system appears to be concentrated. It is the point about which
the sum of the torques due to gravity on all individual particles of the system is zero.
For a system of discrete particles, its position vector is:

RCM=∑mi∑miri

For a continuous body, it is:

RCM=∫dm∫rdm

Usefulness: The concept of CM is useful for:

oAnalyzing the translational motion of a complex system as if all its mass were
concentrated at the CM, simplifying problem-solving.
o Determining the stability and balance of objects.
o Understanding collisions and explosions where internal forces don't affect the
CM's motion.
2. Derivation of τ=Iα: Consider a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis with angular
acceleration α. Let the body be composed of particles of masses m1,m2,…,mn at
perpendicular distances r1,r2,…,rn from the axis of rotation. The tangential force
acting on the i-th particle is Fi=miai=mi(riα). The torque experienced by the i-th
particle about the axis is τi=Firi=(miriα)ri=miri2α. The total external torque acting on
the rigid body is the sum of the torques on all individual particles:

τtotal=∑τi=∑miri2α

Since α is common for all particles in a rigid body:

 τtotal=(∑miri2)α

The term ∑miri2 is the moment of inertia (I) of the rigid body about the axis of
rotation. Therefore,

τtotal=Iα

This is the rotational analogue of Newton's second law (F=ma).

3. When a person standing on a rotating platform stretches out his arms, his angular
speed decreases. Reason: This phenomenon is explained by the law of conservation
of angular momentum. Angular momentum (L) is given by L=Iω, where I is the
moment of inertia and ω is the angular speed. Assuming no external torque acts on the
system (person + platform), the total angular momentum of the system remains
constant. When the person stretches out his arms, the mass distribution of the system
changes. More mass is now distributed further away from the axis of rotation. This
causes an increase in the moment of inertia (I) of the person-platform system. Since
L must remain constant, and L=Iω: If I increases, then ω must decrease proportionally
to keep L constant. This is why ice skaters spin faster when they pull their arms in
(decreasing I, increasing ω) and slow down when they extend their arms (increasing I,
decreasing ω).

Section E:

1. Given: Mass of solid cylinder, M=20 kg Radius, R=0.5 m Initial angular speed, ω0
=10 rad/s Applied tangential force, F=50 N Time, t=2 sError! Filename not
specified.

a) Moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its own axis:

I=21MR2I=21(20 kg)(0.5 m)2I=21(20)(0.25)I=10×0.25=2.5 kg m2

b) Rotational kinetic energy:

KErot=21Iω02KErot=21(2.5 kg m2)(10 rad/s)2KErot=21(2.5)(100)KErot=125 J

c) New angular speed: First, calculate the torque applied:

τ=F×Rτ=(50 N)(0.5 m)=25 N m

Now, calculate the angular acceleration:

τ=Iα⇒α=Iτα=2.5 kg m225 N m=10 rad/s2

Finally, use the rotational kinematic equation:

ω=ω0+αtω=10 rad/s+(10 rad/s2)(2 s)ω=10+20=30 rad/s

The new angular speed will be 30 rad/s.

2. Given: Mass of rod, MR=2 kg Length of rod, L=1 m Mass of particle, mP=0.5 kg
Pivot at one end.

a) Moment of inertia of the rod-particle system about the pivot: Moment of inertia
of the rod about one end: IR=31MRL2

IR=31(2 kg)(1 m)2=32 kg m2

Moment of inertia of the particle at the free end (distance L from pivot): IP=mPL2

IP=(0.5 kg)(1 m)2=0.5 kg m2

Total moment of inertia of the system: Itotal=IR+IP

Itotal=32+0.5=0.666...+0.5=1.166...≈1.17 kg m2

b) Initial angular acceleration: The torque is due to gravity acting on the center of
mass of the rod and the particle. Center of mass of the rod is at L/2 from the pivot.
Force due to gravity on rod: MRg. Torque due to rod: τR=MRg(L/2)=(2)(9.8)
(1/2)=9.8 N m Center of mass of the particle is at L from the pivot. Force due to
gravity on particle: mPg. Torque due to particle: τP=mPgL=(0.5)(9.8)(1)=4.9 N m
Total torque: τtotal=τR+τP=9.8+4.9=14.7 N m Using τtotal=Itotalα:

α=Itotalτtotal=1.166... kg m214.7 N m≈12.6 rad/s2

c) Angular speed when it reaches the vertical position: Use conservation of

mechanical energy. Initial state: Rod horizontal, at rest. (Potential energy reference at
pivot level) Final state: Rod vertical. Potential energy lost by rod: ΔPER=MRg(L/2)
(CM moves from L/2 to 0)

ΔPER=(2 kg)(9.8 m/s2)(1 m/2)=9.8 J

Potential energy lost by particle: ΔPEP=mPgL (particle moves from L to 0)

ΔPEP=(0.5 kg)(9.8 m/s2)(1 m)=4.9 J

Total potential energy lost = ΔPEtotal=9.8+4.9=14.7 J By conservation of energy, this

lost potential energy is converted into rotational kinetic energy.

ΔPEtotal=21Itotalω214.7 J=21(1.166... kg m2)ω2ω2=1.166...2×14.7=1.166...29.4

≈25.19ω=25.19≈5.02 rad/s

The angular speed of the rod when it reaches the vertical position is approximately
5.02 rad/s.