Using Angular Momentum Equations - AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

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Question

Two solid cylinderical disks have equal radii. The first disk is spinning clockwise at and the second disk is spinning counterclockwise at . The second disk has a mass three times larger than the first. If both spinning disks are combined to form one disk, they end up rotating at the same angular velocity and same direction. Find this angular velocity after combination.

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Answer

For the first disk, we have the information below.

For the second disk, we have the information below.

(The minus sign indicates counterclockwise while the positive indicates clockwise.)

To do this problem, we use conservation of angular momentum. Before the disks are put in contact, the initial total angular momentum is given by the equation below.

It is just the sum of the angular momentums of each disk. When the disks are combined together, then final angular momentum can be found by the following equation.

Set this equal to the initial angular momentum.

Simplify and solve for .

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