question_answer

There is a stick half of which is wooden and half is of steel. It is pivoted at the wooden end and a force is applied at the steel end at right angles to its length. Next, it is pivoted at the steel end and the same force is applied at the wooden end. In which case is angular acceleration more and why?

Answer:

                We know that torque, \[\tau =Force\times dis\tan ce=I\alpha =cons\tan t\]                 \[\therefore \]                  \[\alpha =\frac{\tau }{I}\] i.e. \[\alpha \propto \frac{1}{I}\]                 Angular acc. (\[\alpha \]) will be more, when I is small, for which lighter material (wood) should be larger distance from the axi of rotation, i.e., when the stick is pivoted at the steel end.