Physics · Textbook solutions
Rotational Dynamics
Every solved example, exercise, and miscellaneous question, in the order the textbook teaches them. Plus every board question asked from this chapter. · 40 questions
1. Rotational Dynamics — worked examples
9 q
Solved Examples
Worked · 9
- Solved Ex.1.1A fan is rotating at 90 rpm. It is then switched OFF. It stops after 21 rotations. Calculate the time taken by it to stop assuming that the frictional torque is constant.
- Solved Ex.1.2A motor cyclist (to be treated as a point mass) is to undertake horizontal circles inside the cylindrical wall of a well of inner radius 4 m. Coefficient of static friction between the tyres and the wall is 0.4. Calculate the minimum speed and frequency necessary to perform this stunt. (Use )
- Solved Ex.1.3A racing track of radius of curvature 9.9 m is banked at . Coefficient of static friction between the track and the tyres of a vehicle is 0.2. Determine the speed limits with 10 % margin. (Take )
- Solved Ex.1.4A merry-go-round usually consists of a central vertical pillar. At the top of it there are horizontal rods which can rotate about vertical axis. At the end of this horizontal rod there is a vertical rod fitted like an elbow joint. At the lower end of each vertical rod, there is a horse on which the rider can sit. As the merry-go-round is set into rotation, these vertical rods move away from the axle by making some angle with the vertical. The figure above shows vertical section of a merry-go-round in which the 'initially vertical' rods are inclined with the vertical at , during rotation. Calculate the frequency of revolution of the merry-go-round. (Use and )
- Solved Ex.1.5Semi-vertical angle of the conical section of a funnel is . There is a small ball kept inside the funnel. On rotating the funnel, the maximum speed that the ball can have in order to remain in the funnel is 2 m/s. Calculate inner radius of the brim of the funnel. Is there any limit upon the frequency of rotation? How much is it? Is it lower or upper limit? Give a logical reasoning. (Use and )
- Solved Ex.1.6A tiny stone of mass 20 g is tied to a practically massless, inextensible, flexible string and whirled along vertical circles. Speed of the stone is 8 m/s when the centripetal force is exactly equal to the force due to the tension. Calculate minimum and maximum kinetic energies of the stone during the entire circle. Let be the angular position of the string, when the stone is at the lowermost position. Determine the angular position of the string when the force due to tension is numerically equal to weight of the stone. Use and length of the string
- Solved Ex.1.7A flywheel is a mechanical device specifically designed to efficiently store rotational energy. For a particular machine it is in the form of a uniform 20 kg disc of diameter 50 cm, able to rotate about its own axis. Calculate its kinetic energy when rotating at 1200 rpm. Use . Calculate its moment of inertia, in case it is rotated about a tangent in its plane.
- Solved Ex.1.8A spherical water balloon is rotating at 60 rpm. In the course of time, 48.8 % of its water leaks out. With what frequency will the remaining balloon rotate now? Neglect all non-conservative forces.
- Solved Ex.1.9A ceiling fan having moment of inertia 2 kg-m attains its maximum frequency of 60 rpm in '' seconds. Calculate its power rating.
Exercises
31 q
Choose the correct option
Practice · 6
- Use , unless, otherwise stated. Choose the correct option.Ex Q.1 (i)When seen from below, the blades of a ceiling fan are seen to be revolving anticlockwise and their speed is decreasing. Select correct statement about the directions of its angular velocity and angular acceleration.
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- Ex Q.1 (ii)A particle of mass 1 kg, tied to a 1.2 m long string is whirled to perform vertical circular motion, under gravity. Minimum speed of a particle is 5 m/s. Consider following statements. P) Maximum speed must be m/s. Q) Difference between maximum and minimum tensions along the string is 60 N. Select correct option.
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- Ex Q.1 (iii)Select correct statement about the formula (expression) of moment of inertia (M.I.) in terms of mass M of the object and some of its distance parameter/s, such as R, L, etc.
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- Ex Q.1 (iv)In a certain unit, the radius of gyration of a uniform disc about its central and transverse axis is . Its radius of gyration about a tangent in its plane (in the same unit) must be
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- Ex Q.1 (v)Consider following cases: (P) A planet revolving in an elliptical orbit. (Q) A planet revolving in a circular orbit. Principle of conservation of angular momentum comes in force in which of these?
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- Ex Q.1 (X)A thin walled hollow cylinder is rolling down an incline, without slipping. At any instant, the ratio "Rotational K.E.: Translational K.E.: Total K.E." is
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Answer in brief
Practice · 5
- Answer in brief.Ex Q.2 (i)Why are curved roads banked?
- Ex Q.2 (ii)Do we need a banked road for a two-wheeler? Explain.
- Ex Q.2 (iii)On what factors does the frequency of a conical pendulum depend? Is it independent of some factors?
- Ex Q.2 (iv)Why is it useful to define radius of gyration?
- Ex Q.2 (v)A uniform disc and a hollow right circular cone have the same formula for their M.I., when rotating about their central axes. Why is it so?
Solve the following
Practice · 20
- Ex Q.3While driving along an unbanked circular road, a two-wheeler rider has to lean with the vertical. Why is it so? With what angle the rider has to lean? Derive the relevant expression. Why such a leaning is not necessary for a four wheeler?
- Ex Q.4Using the energy conservation, derive the expressions for the minimum speeds at different locations along a vertical circular motion controlled by gravity. Is zero speed possible at the uppermost point? Under what condition/s? Also prove that the difference between the extreme tensions (or normal forces) depends only upon the weight of the object.
- Ex Q.5Discuss the necessity of radius of gyration. Define it. On what factors does it depend and it does not depend? Can you locate some similarity between the centre of mass and radius of gyration? What can you infer if a uniform ring and a uniform disc have the same radius of gyration?
- Ex Q.6State the conditions under which the theorems of parallel axes and perpendicular axes are applicable. State the respective mathematical expressions.
- Ex Q.7Derive an expression that relates angular momentum with the angular velocity of a rigid body.
- Ex Q.8Obtain an expression relating the torque with angular acceleration for a rigid body.
- Ex Q.9State and explain the principle of conservation of angular momentum. Use a suitable illustration. Do we use it in our daily life? When?
- Ex Q.10Discuss the interlink between translational, rotational and total kinetic energies of a rigid object that rolls without slipping.
- Ex Q.11A rigid object is rolling down an inclined plane. Derive expressions for the acceleration along the track and the speed after falling through a certain vertical distance.
- Ex Q.12Somehow, an ant is stuck to the rim of a bicycle wheel of diameter 1 m. While the bicycle is on a central stand, the wheel is set into rotation and it attains the frequency of 2 rev/s in 10 seconds, with uniform angular acceleration. Calculate (i) Number of revolutions completed by the ant in these 10 seconds. (ii) Time taken by it for first complete revolution and the last complete revolution.
- Ex Q.13Coefficient of static friction between a coin and a gramophone disc is 0.5. Radius of the disc is 8 cm. Initially the centre of the coin is 2 cm away from the centre of the disc. At what minimum frequency will it start slipping from there? By what factor will the answer change if the coin is almost at the rim? (use )
- Use , unless, otherwise stated.Ex Q.14Part of a racing track is to be designed for a radius of curvature of 72 m. We are not recommending the vehicles to drive faster than 216 kmph. With what angle should the road be tilted? At what height will its outer edge be, with respect to the inner edge if the track is 10 m wide?
- Use , unless, otherwise stated.Ex Q.15The road in the example 14 above is constructed as per the requirements. The coefficient of static friction between the tyres of a vehicle on this road is 0.8, will there be any lower speed limit? By how much can the upper speed limit exceed in this case?
- Use , unless, otherwise stated.Ex Q.16During a stunt, a cyclist (considered to be a particle) is undertaking horizontal circles inside a cylindrical well of radius 6.05 m. If the necessary friction coefficient is 0.5, how much minimum speed should the stunt artist maintain? Mass of the artist is 50 kg. If she/he increases the speed by 20%, how much will the force of friction be?
- Use , unless, otherwise stated.Ex Q.17A pendulum consisting of a massless string of length 20 cm and a tiny bob of mass 100 g is set up as a conical pendulum. Its bob now performs 75 rpm. Calculate kinetic energy and increase in the gravitational potential energy of the bob. (Use )
- Use , unless, otherwise stated.Ex Q.18A motorcyclist (as a particle) is undergoing vertical circles inside a sphere of death. The speed of the motorcycle varies between 6 m/s and 10 m/s. Calculate diameter of the sphere of death. What are the minimum values are possible for these two speeds?
- Ex Q.19A metallic ring of mass 1 kg has moment of inertia 1 kg m when rotating about one of its diameters. It is molten and remoulded into a thin uniform disc of the same radius. How much will its moment of inertia be, when rotated about its own axis.
- Ex Q.20A big dumb-bell is prepared by using a uniform rod of mass 60 g and length 20 cm. Two identical solid thermocol spheres of mass 25 g and radius 10 cm each are at the two ends of the rod. Calculate moment of inertia of the dumb-bell when rotated about an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to the length.
- Ex Q.21A flywheel used to prepare earthenware pots is set into rotation at 100 rpm. It is in the form of a disc of mass 10 kg and radius 0.4 m. A lump of clay (to be taken equivalent to a particle) of mass 1.6 kg falls on it and adheres to it at a certain distance x from the centre. Calculate if the wheel now rotates at 80 rpm.
- Use , unless, otherwise stated.Ex Q.22Starting from rest, an object rolls down along an incline that rises by 3 units in every 5 units (along it). The object gains a speed of m/s as it travels a distance of m along the incline. What can be the possible shape/s of the object?
What the board has asked from this chapter
Questions per paper · 16 papers · 2016 to 2026
2016: 6 questions per paper. 2017: 5 questions per paper. 2018: 6 questions per paper. 2019: 5 questions per paper. 2020: 6 questions per paper. 2022: 4 questions per paper. 2023: 1 questions per paper. 2024: 2.3 questions per paper. 2025: 2.7 questions per paper. 2026: 3.5 questions per paper
June 2026
4 q
- Q. 1(i)The MI of ring of radius and mass about its central axis is _____
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Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration - Answer the following questions :Q. 2(vii)A motorcyclist performs horizontal circular motion inside a well of inner radius 3 m. Calculate the minimum speed to perform the stunt if coefficient of static friction is 0.3. [ ].Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 3Obtain an expression for the maximum speed of a vehicle along horizontal circular curved road.Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 15State and prove perpendicular axes theorem.Theorems of Parallel and Perpendicular Axes
February 2026
3 q
- Q. 1(v)The period of conical pendulum in terms of its length , semi-vertical angle and acceleration due to gravity is _____.
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Applications of Uniform Circular Motion - Q. 7A ceiling fan has moment of inertia of . It attains maximum frequency of 60 r.p.m. in seconds. Calculate its power rating.Angular Momentum and Torque
- Q. 28Obtain an expression for maximum safety speed with which a vehicle should move along a curved horizontal road. Moment of intertia of a solid sphere about its diameter is . Calculate its moment of inertia about a tangent.Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
June 2025
4 q
- Q. 1(i)For which of the following bodies, the principle of perpendicular axes is applicable?
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Theorems of Parallel and Perpendicular Axes - Answer the following questions :Q. 2(vii)A metal ring of radius 20 cm is rotating about a transverse axis passing through its centre. What will be its radius of gyration about the same axis?Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 3Obtain an expression for moment of inertia of a uniform disc of mass 'M' and radius 'R' rotating about an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to its plane.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 15Obtain an expression for torque acting on a rigid body rotating with constant angular acceleration.Angular Momentum and Torque
February 2025
4 q
- Answer the following questions :Q. 2(vi)State the formula for angle of banking.Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 1(viii)The power rating of a ceiling fan rotating with a constant torque of 2 Nm with an angular speed of rad/s will be _____.
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Angular Momentum and Torque - Q. 6State and prove the law of conservation of angular momentum.Conservation of Angular Momentum
- Q. 23A flywheel of a motor has mass 100 kg and radius 1.5 m. The motor develops a constant torque of 2000 Nm. The flywheel starts rotating from rest. Calculate the work done during the first 4 revolutions.Angular Momentum and Torque
July 2024
3 q
- Answer the following questions :Q. 2(i)What is the radius of gyration of a solid sphere of radius R about its diameter?Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 12A torque of magnitude 400 Nm acting on a body of mass 40 kg produces an angular acceleration of . Calculate the moment of inertia of the body.Angular Momentum and Torque
- Q. 27Derive an expression for minimum speed to perform stunts in well of death. Part of a racing track is to be designed for a radius of curvature of 288 m. We are not recommending the vehicles to drive faster than 216 km/hr. With what angle should the road be tilted?Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
February 2024
4 q
- Q. 11Derive an expression for maximum speed of a vehicle moving along a horizontal circular track.Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Answer the following questions :Q. 2(i)Define centripetal force.Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 24The radius of a circular track is 200 m. Find the angle of banking of the track, if the maximum speed at which a car can be driven safely along it is 25 m/sec.Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 1(i)The moment of inertia (MI) of a disc of radius R and mass M about its central axis is _____.
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Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
February 2023
2 q
- Answer the following questions:Q. 2(v)If friction is made zero for a road, can a vehicle move safely on this road?Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 31Derive expressions for linear velocity at lowest position, mid-way position and the top-most position for a particle revolving in a vertical circle, if it has to just complete circular motion without string slackening at top.Vertical Circular Motion
March 2022
4 q
- Q. 1(vii)When the bob performs a vertical circular motion and the string rotates in a vertical plane, the difference in the tension in the string at horizontal position and uppermost position is ________.
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Vertical Circular Motion - Q. 2(viii)Calculate the moment of inertia of a uniform disc of mass 10 kg and radius 60 cm about an axis perpendicular to its length and passing through its centre.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 3Define moment of inertia of a rotating rigid body. State its SI unit and dimensions.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 19Derive an expression for the kinetic energy of a body rotating with a uniform angular speed.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
February 2020
6 q
- Q. 2(iv)Define uniform circular motion.Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 6Obtain the relation between the magnitude of linear acceleration and angular acceleration in circular motion.Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 25In a Circus, a motor-cyclist having mass of 50 kg moves in a spherical cage of radius 3 m. Calculate the least velocity with which he must pass the highest point without losing contact. Also calculate his angular speed at the highest point.Vertical Circular Motion
- Q. 1(iii)In rotational motion of a rigid body, all particles move with ________.
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Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion - Q. 18State and prove the principle of parallel axes in rotational motion.Theorems of Parallel and Perpendicular Axes
- Q. 13Energy of 1000 J is spent to increase the angular speed of a wheel from 20 rad/s to 30 rad/s. Calculate the moment of inertia of the wheel.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
March 2019
5 q
- Q. 5What is the value of tangential acceleration in U.C.M.?Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 16Obtain expressions of energy of a particle at different positions in the vertical circular motion.Vertical Circular Motion
- Q. 13Define radius of gyration. Write its physical significance.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 27 ORThe radius of gyration of a body about an axis, at a distance of 0.4 m from its centre of mass is 0.5 m. Find its radius of gyration about a parallel axis passing through its centre of mass.Theorems of Parallel and Perpendicular Axes
- Q. 27A wheel of moment of inertia is rotating at a speed of 30 rad/s. Due to friction on the axis, it comes to rest in 10 minutes. Calculate the average torque of the friction.Angular Momentum and Torque
March 2018
6 q
- Q. 2(iv)Distinguish between centripetal and centrifugal force.Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 2(vii)A flat curve on a highway has a radius of curvature 400 m. A car goes around a curve at a speed of 32 m/s. What is the minimum value of coefficient of friction that will prevent the car from sliding? ().Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 1(iii)A particle of mass m performs vertical motion in a circle of radius r. Its potential energy at the highest point is ________. (g is acceleration due to gravity).
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Vertical Circular Motion - Q. 2(iii)Define moment of inertia. State its SI unit and dimensions.Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration
- Q. 1(vii)A thin ring has mass 0.25 kg and radius 0.5m. Its moment of inertia about an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to its plane is ________.
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Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration - Q. 3(ii)State and prove principle of conservation of angular momentum.Conservation of Angular Momentum
March 2017
5 q
- Q. 2(i)Explain the concept of centripetal force.Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 3(iv)A vehicle is moving on a circular track whose surface is inclined towards the horizon at an angle of . The maximum velocity with which it can move safely is 36 km / hr. Calculate the length of the circular track. [].Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 1(iii)When the angular acceleration of a rotating body is zero, which physical quantity will be equal to zero?
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Angular Momentum and Torque - Q. 3(ii)Obtain an expression for torque acting on a rotating body with constant angular acceleration. Hence state the dimensions and SI unit of torque.Angular Momentum and Torque
- Q. 2(vi)A solid sphere of mass 1 kg rolls on a table with linear speed 2 m/s, find its total kinetic energy.Rolling Motion
March 2016
6 q
- Q. 1(i)In U. C. M. (Uniform Circular Motion), prove the relation , where symbols have their usual meanings.Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion
- Q. 2(i)A particle rotates in U.C.M. with tangential velocity 'v' along a horizontal circle of diameter 'D'. Total angular displacement of the particle in time 't' is ___________.
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Kinematics and Dynamics of Circular Motion - Q. 1(v)A coin kept at a distance of 5cm from the centre of a turntable of radius 1.5m just begins to slip when the turntable rotates at a speed of 90 r.p.m. Calculate the coefficient of static friction between the coin and the turntable. [].Applications of Uniform Circular Motion
- Q. 4(ii)State and prove theorem of parallel axes about moment of inertia.Theorems of Parallel and Perpendicular Axes
- Q. 2(vii)A body of moment of inertia rotating with an angular velocity 6 rad/s has the same kinetic energy as a mass of 20 kg moving with a velocity of _________.
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Moment of Inertia and Radius of Gyration - Q. 1(iii)Obtain an expression for total kinetic energy of a rolling body in the form .Rolling Motion
The 10 board questions to practise first
The questions the board asked again come first, most asked first. Each one says how often and when.
Question 1
Asked 3 times: Feb 2024, Feb 2026, Jun 2026
Q. 3Obtain an expression for the maximum speed of a vehicle along horizontal circular curved road.Question 2
Asked 2 times: Mar 2017, Jun 2025
Q. 15Obtain an expression for torque acting on a rigid body rotating with constant angular acceleration.Question 3
Asked 2 times: Mar 2018, Feb 2025
Q. 6State and prove the law of conservation of angular momentum.Question 4
Asked 2 times: Mar 2018, Mar 2022
Q. 3Define moment of inertia of a rotating rigid body. State its SI unit and dimensions.Question 5
Asked 2 times: Mar 2016, Feb 2020
Q. 18State and prove the principle of parallel axes in rotational motion.Question 6
This type asked 5 times: Mar 2018, Mar 2022, Feb 2024, Jun 2025, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026
Q. 1(i)The MI of ring of radius and mass about its central axis is _____Tap an option to check your answer.
Question 7
This type asked 4 times: Mar 2017, Feb 2024, Jul 2024, Feb 2025. This one: Feb 2025
Answer the following questions :Q. 2(vi)State the formula for angle of banking.Question 8
This type asked 4 times: Mar 2019, Feb 2020, Mar 2022, Feb 2023. This one: Feb 2023
Q. 31Derive expressions for linear velocity at lowest position, mid-way position and the top-most position for a particle revolving in a vertical circle, if it has to just complete circular motion without string slackening at top.Question 9
This type asked 3 times: Mar 2019, Jul 2024, Jun 2025. This one: Jun 2025
Answer the following questions :Q. 2(vii)A metal ring of radius 20 cm is rotating about a transverse axis passing through its centre. What will be its radius of gyration about the same axis?Question 10
This type asked 3 times: Mar 2016, Mar 2018, Feb 2023. This one: Feb 2023
Answer the following questions:Q. 2(v)If friction is made zero for a road, can a vehicle move safely on this road?