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Yoonique
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Homework Statement
Two hoops are fastened together as shown below. Smaller hoop mass m, and larger hoop mass 3m. The system is now placed on the table and the system is released from rest in the position shown below. There is sufficient friction between the large hoop and the table so that it rolls without slipping. How fast relative to the table is the centre of the large hoop moving when the centres of the two hoops like in a vertical line?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
There is two methods to solving this question. The first method is considering the instantaneous axis of rotation the moment the centres of the two hoops lies in a vertical line which is the point on contact between the table and the hoop system.
So Δmgh = 0.5Iω2, where I is the moment of inertia of the hoop system with respect to the instantaneous axis of rotation.
There is a second method where I can consider Δmgh = 0.5Icmω2 + 0.5McmVcm2, where Icm is the moment of inertia of the hoop system with respect to the centre of mass.
Here is the part where I do not really understand. The first method uses v=ωr to find the total K.E of the hoop system. But I cannot use v=wr to find the total K.E of the hoop system for the second method as the answer said the centre of mass is rotating with respect to some other points. If I want to use the second method, I need to consider the rotational energy of the moving centre of mass. Can someone explain this to me? I don't really get it.
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