ConcepTest Clicker

Questions
Chapter 11

Physics, 4th Edition

James S. Walker

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 11.1

Using a Wrench

You are using a wrench to

loosen a rusty nut. Which

a
b

arrangement will be the

most effective in loosening
the nut?

e) all are equally effective

Question 11.1

Using a Wrench

You are using a wrench to

loosen a rusty nut. Which

a
b

arrangement will be the

most effective in loosening
the nut?

Because the forces are all the

same, the only difference
is the lever arm. The
arrangement with the largest
lever arm (case #2)
#2 will
provide the largest torque.
torque

e) all are equally effective

Follow-up: What is the difference between arrangement 1 and 4?

Question 11.2
Two forces produce the same
torque. Does it follow that they
have the same magnitude?

Two Forces
a) yes
b) no
c) depends

Question 11.2
Two forces produce the same
torque. Does it follow that they

Two Forces
a) yes
b) no
c) depends

have the same magnitude?

Because torque is the product of force times distance, two different

forces that act at different distances could still give the same torque.

Follow-up: If two torques are identical, does that mean their

forces
are identical as well?

Question 11.3
In which of the cases shown below
is the torque provided by the
applied force about the rotation
axis biggest? For all cases the
magnitude of the applied force is
the same.

Closing a Door
a) F1
b) F3
c) F4
d) all of them
e) none of them

Question 11.3
In which of the cases shown below
is the torque provided by the
applied force about the rotation
axis biggest? For all cases the
magnitude of the applied force is
the same.

Closing a Door
a) F1
b) F3
c) F4
d) all of them
e) none of them

The torque is = rFsin

and so
the force that is at 90 to the lever
arm is the one that will have the
largest torque.
torque Clearly, to close
the door, you want to push
perpendicularly!!
perpendicularly
Follow-up: How large would the force have to be for F4?

Question 11.4
When a tape is played on a cassette
deck, there is a tension in the tape
that applies a torque to the supply
reel. Assuming the tension remains
constant during playback, how does
this applied torque vary as the
supply reel becomes empty?

Cassette Player
a) torque increases
b) torque decreases
c) torque remains constant

Question 11.4
When a tape is played on a cassette
deck, there is a tension in the tape
that applies a torque to the supply
reel. Assuming the tension remains
constant during playback, how does
this applied torque vary as the
supply reel becomes empty?

Cassette Player
a) torque increases
b) torque decreases
c) torque remains constant

As the supply reel empties, the lever arm decreases because the
radius of the reel (with tape on it) is decreasing. Thus, as the
playback continues, the applied torque diminishes.

Question 11.5a Dumbbell I

A force is applied to a dumbbell
for a certain period of time, first
as in (a) and then as in (b). In
which case does the dumbbell
acquire the greater
center-of-mass speed ?

a) case (a)
b) case (b)
c) no difference
d) it depends on the rotational
inertia of the dumbbell

Question 11.5a Dumbbell I

A force is applied to a dumbbell
for a certain period of time, first
as in (a) and then as in (b). In
which case does the dumbbell
acquire the greater
center-of-mass speed ?

Because the same force acts for the

same time interval in both cases, the
change in momentum must be the
same, thus the CM velocity must be
the same.

a) case (a)
b) case (b)
c) no difference
d) it depends on the rotational
inertia of the dumbbell

Question 11.5b Dumbbell II

A force is applied to a dumbbell
for a certain period of time, first
as in (a) and then as in (b). In
which case does the dumbbell
acquire the greater energy ?

a) case (a)
b) case (b)
c) no difference
d) it depends on the rotational
inertia of the dumbbell

Question 11.5b Dumbbell II

A force is applied to a dumbbell
for a certain period of time, first
as in (a) and then as in (b). In
which case does the dumbbell
acquire the greater energy ?

If the CM velocities are the same,

the translational kinetic energies
must be the same. Because
dumbbell (b) is also rotating, it has
rotational kinetic energy in addition.

a) case (a)
b) case (b)
c) no difference
d) it depends on the rotational
inertia of the dumbbell

Question 11.6

Moment of Inertia

Two spheres have the same radius and

equal masses. One is made of solid
aluminum, and the other is made from a
hollow shell of gold.
Which one has the bigger moment of
inertia about an axis through its center?

a) solid aluminum
b) hollow gold
c) same

hollow

solid

same mass & radius

Question 11.6

Moment of Inertia

Two spheres have the same radius and

equal masses. One is made of solid
aluminum, and the other is made from a
hollow shell of gold.
Which one has the bigger moment of
inertia about an axis through its center?

Moment of inertia depends on

mass and distance from axis
squared. It is bigger for the
shell because its mass is
located farther from the center.

a) solid aluminum
b) hollow gold
c) same

hollow

solid

same mass & radius

Question 11.7

Figure Skater

A figure skater spins with her arms

a) the same
extended. When she pulls in her arms,
b) larger because shes rotating
she reduces her rotational inertia and
faster
spins faster so that her angular
momentum is conserved. Compared to c) smaller because her rotational
her initial rotational kinetic energy, her
inertia is smaller
rotational kinetic energy after she pulls in
her arms must be

Question 11.7

Figure Skater

A figure skater spins with her arms

a) the same
extended. When she pulls in her arms,
she reduces her rotational inertia
b) larger because shes rotating
faster
and spins faster so that her angular
momentum is conserved. Compared
c) smaller because her rotational
to her initial rotational kinetic energy, her inertia is smaller
rotational kinetic energy after she pulls in
her arms must be:

KErot =

1
2

I 2 =

1
2

L (used L = I ).

Because L is conserved, larger

means larger KErot. The extra
energy comes from the work she
does on her arms.
Follow-up: Where does the extra energy come from?

Question 11.8

Two Disks

Two different spinning disks have

the same angular momentum, but
disk 1 has more kinetic energy than
disk 2.

a) disk 1
b) disk 2
c) not enough info

Which one has the bigger moment of

inertia?

Disk 1

Disk 2

Question 11.8

Two Disks

Two different spinning disks have the a) disk 1

same angular momentum, but disk 1
has more kinetic energy than disk 2. b) disk 2
Which one has the bigger moment of
inertia?

c) not enough info

KE = 2 I 2 = L2 (2 I)
(used L = I ).
Because L is the same,
bigger I means smaller KE.

Disk 1

Disk 2

Question 11.9

Spinning Bicycle Wheel

You are holding a spinning bicycle

wheel while standing on a
stationary turntable. If you
suddenly flip the wheel over so
that it is spinning in the opposite
direction, the turntable will:

a) remain stationary
b) start to spin in the same
direction as before flipping
c) to spin in the same direction
as after flipping

Question 11.9

Spinning Bicycle Wheel

You are holding a spinning bicycle

wheel while standing on a
stationary turntable. If you
suddenly flip the wheel over so
that it is spinning in the opposite
direction, the turntable will:

The total angular momentum of the

system is L upward, and it is
conserved. So if the wheel has
L downward, you and the table
must have +2L upward.

a) remain stationary
b) start to spin in the same direction
as before flipping
c) start to spin in the same direction
as after flipping

Question 11.10

Balancing Rod

A 1-kg ball is hung at the end of a rod

a) kg

1-m long. If the system balances at a

b) kg

point on the rod 0.25 m from the end

c) 1 kg

holding the mass, what is the mass of

d) 2 kg

the rod?

e) 4 kg

1m
1kg

Question 11.10

Balancing Rod

A 1-kg ball is hung at the end of a rod

a) kg

1-m long. If the system balances at a

b) kg

point on the rod 0.25 m from the end

c) 1 kg

holding the mass, what is the mass of

d) 2 kg

the rod?

e) 4 kg

The total torque about the pivot

must be zero !!

The CM of the

same distance

rod is at its center, 0.25 m to the

right of the pivot.

pivot Because this
must balance the ball, which is
the same distance to the left of
the pivot,
pivot the masses must be
the same !!

mROD = 1 kg

1 kg

CM of rod

Question 11.11

Mobile

A (static) mobile hangs as shown

a) 5 kg

below. The rods are massless and

b) 6 kg

have lengths as indicated. The mass

c) 7 kg

of the ball at the bottom right is 1 kg.

d) 8 kg

What is the total mass of the mobile?

e) 9 kg

?
1m

2m

1 kg
1m

3m

Question 11.11

Mobile

A (static) mobile hangs as shown

a) 5 kg

below. The rods are massless and

b) 6 kg

have lengths as indicated. The mass

c) 7 kg

of the ball at the bottom right is 1 kg.

d) 8 kg

What is the total mass of the mobile?

e) 9 kg

Use torques in two steps: (1)

find the big mass on the bottom

left (lower rod only), and (2) use

the entire lower rod assembly
(with two masses) to find the
mass on top right. Finally, add
up all the masses.

1m

2m

1 kg
1m

3m

Question 11.12a

Tipping Over I

A box is placed on a ramp in the

configurations shown below. Friction
prevents it from sliding. The center of
mass of the box is indicated by a blue dot
in each case. In which case(s) does the
box tip over?

a) all
b) 1 only
c) 2 only
d) 3 only
e) 2 and 3

Question 11.12a

Tipping Over I

A box is placed on a ramp in the

configurations shown below. Friction
prevents it from sliding. The center of
mass of the box is indicated by a blue dot
in each case. In which case(s) does the
box tip over?

a) all
b) 1 only
c) 2 only
d) 3 only
e) 2 and 3

The torque due to gravity acts like all

the mass of an object is concentrated
at the CM. Consider the bottom right
corner of the box to be a pivot point.
If the box can rotate such that the CM
is lowered, it will!!

Question 11.12b Tipping Over II

Consider the two configurations of

a) case 1 will tip

books shown below. Which of the

b) case 2 will tip

following is true?

c) both will tip

d) neither will tip

2
1/4
1/2

1/2
1/4

Question 11.12b Tipping Over II

Consider the two configurations of

a) case 1 will tip

books shown below. Which of the

b) case 2 will tip

following is true?

c) both will tip

d) neither will tip

The CM of the system is

midway between the CM of

each book. Therefore, the

CM of case #1 is not over the
table, so it will tip.
tip

1/4
1/2

1/2
1/4