A flywheel having mass 3 kg and radius 5 m is free to rotate about a horizontal axis. A string having negligible mass is wound around the wheel and the loose end of the string is connected to 3 kg mass. The mass is kept at rest initially and released. Kinetic energy of the wheel when the mass descends by 3 m is J. (g = 10 m/s2)
Answer
30
Solution
Taking the flywheel as a uniform disc: I = 12MR2 = 12 3 52 = 37.5 kg m2
String does not slip: v = R
Energy conservation: mgh = 12mv2 + 12I 2
12I 2 = 12 12MR2 v2R2 = 14Mv2 = 0.75v2
3 10 3 = 12 3v2 + 0.75v2
90 = 2.25v2 v2 = 40 m2 s-2
KE of the wheel = 0.75 40 = 30 J
Answer: 30