Chapter 11, Problem 51PCE

Predict/Explain A student rotates on a frictionless piano stool with his arms outstretched a heavy weight in each hand Suddenly he lets go of the weights, and they fall to the floor As a result does the student’s angular speed increase, decrease or stay the same? (b) Choose the best explanation from among the following:

1. I.           The loss of angular momentum when the weights are dropped causes the student to rotate more slowly.
2. II.         The student s moment of inertia is decreased by dropping the weights
3. III.        Dropping the weights exerts no torque on the student, but the floor exerts a torque on the weights when they land.