W; = 0 Wf m m initial final A flywheel consists of a thin uniform disk of mass m and radius R, free to rotate about a frictionless central axle. A small weight, also of mass m, is attached to the wheel's rim. The is wheel is held at rest (left), the small weight level with the axle, then released. What is the angular velocity of the wheel when the weight reaches its lowest point?
Rigid Body
A rigid body is an object which does not change its shape or undergo any significant deformation due to an external force or movement. Mathematically speaking, the distance between any two points inside the body doesn't change in any situation.
Rigid Body Dynamics
Rigid bodies are defined as inelastic shapes with negligible deformation, giving them an unchanging center of mass. It is also generally assumed that the mass of a rigid body is uniformly distributed. This property of rigid bodies comes in handy when we deal with concepts like momentum, angular momentum, force and torque. The study of these properties – viz., force, torque, momentum, and angular momentum – of a rigid body, is collectively known as rigid body dynamics (RBD).
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