- #1
dhphysics
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Homework Statement
Suppose two spherical balls roll down a hill without slipping. If both are released from rest, which one will roll the fastest?
The answer is that both will roll at the same speed, even if they are of different sizes and weights, but I do not understand why
Homework Equations
Conservation of mechanical energy E= mgh + (1/2)m*v^2 + (1/2)I*ω^2
The Attempt at a Solution
I would think that the smallest ball rolls the fastest. If all of the gravitational potential energy mgh is turned into kinetic energy (1/2)m*v^2 + (1/2)I*ω^2, then the bigger ball would lose more energy to rotational kinetic energy because the rotational inertia I is greater because the radius is bigger. However, that is not the correct answer. I think that friction is not considered in this problem.