MCAT Physical : Rotational, Circular, and Harmonic Motion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Other Rotational Motion Principles

A body is in rotational equilibrium only if __________.

Possible Answers:

its external torques sum to zero

it is in free fall

its external forces sum to zero

It has zero angular momentum

Correct answer:

its external torques sum to zero

Explanation:

A body achieves rotational equilibrium if it is rotating at a constant rate (or no rate, if it is at rest). Similarly, a body achieves translational equilibrium if it is moving at a constant rate (or no rate at all).

In order to impact translational equilibrium, an external force must be applied (Newton's first law). This force results in the acceleration of the mass (Newton's second law).

In order to impact rotational equilibrium, an external torque must be applied. This torque results in rotational acceleration by introducing a centripetal force.

An object can be in rotational equilibrium without translational equilibrium, and can be in translational equilibrium without rotational equilibrium. These two factors are independent in most cases.

Example Question #3 : Other Rotational Motion Principles

A child of mass m stands at the outer edge of a carousel of radius R, which is rotating with angular velocity . If the child then moves inwards, to a distance of R/4 from the center of the carousel, which of the following statements regarding the child-carousel system is true?

Possible Answers:

The system’s angular momentum remains the same, and its moment of inertia increases

The system’s angular momentum decreases, and its moment of inertia remains constant

The system’s angular momentum remains the same, and its angular velocity decreases

The system’s angular momentum remains the same, and its angular velocity increases

The system’s angular momentum decreases, and its moment of inertia also decreases

Correct answer:

The system’s angular momentum remains the same, and its angular velocity increases

Explanation:

Due to conservation of angular momentum, the angular momentum L must remain constant: .

Because of the child’s decreased distance from the axis of rotation, the moment of inertia of the system also decreases The child can be approximated as a point mass with moment of inertia , and the carousel’s moment of inertia remains unchanged. Moving the child toward the center of the carousel will decrease its moment of inertia.

To examine what happens to angular velocity, we need the definition of angular momentum, . Replacing this in the conservation of angular momentum equation, we see that . Since , then  so that the product remains the same.

Angular momentum remains the same, moment of inertia decreases, and angular velocity increases. 

Example Question #3 : Other Rotational Motion Principles

A carousel is rotating clockwise when observed from a bird's-eye view (looking directly down from above). What is the direction of the angular velocity vector, ?

Possible Answers:

Clockwise

Counterclockwise

Upwards

Towards the axis of rotation

Downwards

Correct answer:

Downwards

Explanation:

We can apply the right-hand rule for angular velocity: if the fingers on the right hand curl in the direction of rotation, the thumb points in the direction of the angular velocity vector. In this case the fingers curl clockwise, so thumb points downwards.

Example Question #1 : Other Rotational Motion Principles

A 2kg mass is suspended on a rope that wraps around a frictionless pulley attached to the ceiling with a mass of 0.01kg and a radius of 0.25m. The other end of the rope is attached to a massless suspended platform, upon which 0.5kg weights may be placed. While the system is initially at equilibrium, the rope is later cut above the weight, and the platform subsequently raised by pulling on the rope.

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If we assumed the pulley had internal friction, how would the angular acceleration of the pulley change?

Possible Answers:

Increase

Remain the same

Decrease

Not enough information to determine

Correct answer:

Decrease

Explanation:

The angular acceleration would decrease. Newton’s second law states that F = ma. The net force, however, is reduced in the internal friction scenario because the friction acts to oppose the motion created by the rope around the pulley. As a side note, the pulley would also heat up because the energy change due to friction is released as heat.

Example Question #33 : Rotational, Circular, And Harmonic Motion

Scientists studying the collision of particles note that a certain particle travels around a collider two times every second. If the tube's radius is , with what velocity is the particle traveling?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation relating velocity and radius is  .

Because angular velocity can also be found using the equation , we can set the equations equal and solve for the velocity.

Since we are given the radius as  and the frequency as , we can calculate the velocity. (Frequency can be found by the number of times an object travels around a full circle in one second).

Alternatively, we can use the radius to determine the circumference of the collider.

The particle travels twice around the collider every second.

Example Question #33 : Rotational, Circular, And Harmonic Motion

A solid sphere, a hollow sphere, and a thin solid disk each have mass M and radius R and are released from rest at the top of a frictionless inclined plane. In which order do the objects reach the end of the inclined plane?

Assume that all objects roll, rather than slide.

Possible Answers:

1st: hollow sphere, 2nd: disk, 3rd: solid sphere

1st: hollow sphere, 2nd: solid sphere, 3rd: disk

1st: solid sphere, 2nd: disk, 3rd: hollow sphere

1st: disk, 2nd: solid sphere, 3rd: hollow sphere

1st: disk, 2nd: hollow sphere, 3rd: solid sphere

Correct answer:

1st: solid sphere, 2nd: disk, 3rd: hollow sphere

Explanation:

An object with low moment of inertia will acquire less rotational kinetic energy and more translational kinetic energy (moves faster down the ramp) than an object with higher moment of inertia.

Moment of inertia depends on how close to the object's center of mass its mass is concentrated. An object with more of its mass close to the center will have lower moment of inertia, and subsequently more translational kinetic energy. The solid sphere has lowest moment of inertia, then the disk, and then the hollow sphere, thus the solid sphere reaches the end first, then the disk, and finally the hollow sphere.

Example Question #6 : Other Rotational Motion Principles

 ball rolls down a frictionless ramp with a height of . What is the velocity of the ball when it exits the ramp?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since the ramp is frictionless all the energy in the system is conserved. All the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

The potential energy is given by: 

The kinetic energy formula is:

Since all of the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy we can solve for velocity.

Example Question #1 : Centripetal Force And Acceleration

An insect sits at the edge of slowly turning wheel.  The wheel is accelerated gradually until the insect can no longer hold on.  The insect’s path of travel will be:

  1. The insect will move away from the wheel in a straight line perpendicular to the wheel edge.
  2. The insect will move away from the wheel in a straight line tangent to the wheel edge.
  3. The insect will move away from the wheel edge in a curvilinear path.
  4. The path is not predictable by Newtonian physics.
  5. None of these is true.
Possible Answers:

4

1

2

5

3

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

Choice 2 is correct; this is how a classical slingshot operates. A body in motion tends  to remain in motion unless a force disturbs that motion. At any point in time, the insect is moving in a straight line along a line tangent to the circumference of the wheel. When the little creature leaves the wheel, there is no longer any force acting on it, so it will move in a straight line, not a curvilinear path. Newtonian kinetics of course includes these concepts, because they relate closely to the motion of celestial bodies.

Example Question #34 : Rotational, Circular, And Harmonic Motion

For an object traveling in a circle at a constant velocity of 100m/s, which of the following is true?

Possible Answers:

No forces are acting on the object

Only gravitational force is acting on the object

The object is undergoing constant acceleration

The radius of the circle is 

Correct answer:

The object is undergoing constant acceleration

Explanation:

Since the object is traveling in a circle, it is constantly changing direction. This means that the direction of the velocity is also changing, even if the magnitude is not. Because the magnitude of the velocity does not change, we can assume that acceleration is constant.

Example Question #1 : Centripetal Force And Acceleration

A ball with a mass of 0.95kg is attached to a string with a length of 75cm and moves in a vertical circle at a constant speed of 25m/s. What is the maximum tension in the string?

Possible Answers:

800N

30N

40N

790N

Correct answer:

800N

Explanation:

Maximum tension occurs when the ball is at its bottommost point, as the string experiences both the downward force of gravity and centripetal force.

 

 


 

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