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Rotation Problems

This section provides 100 problems to test your understanding of rotational motion, including kinematics of rotation, dynamics (torque and moment of inertia), rotational kinetic energy, angular momentum and its conservation, rolling motion, and gyroscopic effects with advanced applications. Inspired by JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET exam patterns, these problems are tailored for exam preparation, offering a mix of numerical, conceptual, and derivation-based challenges. NEET-style problems (66–100) are formatted as multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to match the exam’s objective format. Problems are organized by type to support progressive learning and build confidence in mastering rotational dynamics, a key topic for JEE/NEET success.

Numerical Problems

  1. A wheel starts from rest with a constant angular acceleration α=4rad/s2. Calculate the angular velocity after 5s.

    • (a) 15rad/s
    • (b) 20rad/s
    • (c) 25rad/s
    • (d) 30rad/s
  2. A fan blade rotates at ω=12rad/s and completes 60 revolutions. Calculate the time taken.

    • (a) 28s
    • (b) 30s
    • (c) 31s
    • (d) 32s
  3. A 3kg mass is attached to a 1.5m rod pivoted at one end. A force F=15N is applied perpendicularly at the other end. Calculate the angular acceleration.

    • (a) 5.0rad/s2
    • (b) 6.0rad/s2
    • (c) 6.67rad/s2
    • (d) 7.5rad/s2
  4. A uniform disk of mass 5kg and radius 0.4m has a torque τ=10Nm applied. Calculate the angular acceleration.

    • (a) 10rad/s2
    • (b) 12rad/s2
    • (c) 15rad/s2
    • (d) 18rad/s2
  5. A disk of mass 2kg and radius 0.3m rotates at ω=8rad/s. Calculate the rotational kinetic energy.

    • (a) 5.0J
    • (b) 5.76J
    • (c) 6.0J
    • (d) 6.5J
  6. A skater with moment of inertia I=6kgm2 spins at ω=4rad/s. She reduces I to 3kgm2 by pulling her arms in. Calculate her new angular velocity.

    • (a) 6rad/s
    • (b) 7rad/s
    • (c) 8rad/s
    • (d) 9rad/s
  7. A solid sphere of mass 4kg and radius 0.2m rolls without slipping at vCM=6m/s. Calculate the total kinetic energy.

    • (a) 72J
    • (b) 76J
    • (c) 80J
    • (d) 84J
  8. A cylinder rolls down an incline of height 5m without slipping (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the speed of the center of mass at the bottom.

    • (a) 6.0m/s
    • (b) 6.5m/s
    • (c) 7.0m/s
    • (d) 7.5m/s
  9. A spinning top with I=0.01kgm2 spins at ω=40rad/s. Its mass is 0.5kg, and the distance from pivot to COM is 0.02m (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the precession angular velocity.

    • (a) 0.245rad/s
    • (b) 0.3rad/s
    • (c) 0.35rad/s
    • (d) 0.4rad/s
  10. A point on a wheel of radius 0.6m rotates at ω=15rad/s. Calculate the centripetal acceleration of the point.

    • (a) 120m/s2
    • (b) 135m/s2
    • (c) 150m/s2
    • (d) 165m/s2
  11. A disk starts from rest with α=5rad/s2. Calculate the angular displacement after 3s.

    • (a) 20rad
    • (b) 22.5rad
    • (c) 25rad
    • (d) 27.5rad
  12. A 1kg mass on a 1m rod pivoted at the center has a force F=8N applied perpendicularly at the end. Calculate the angular acceleration.

    • (a) 6rad/s2
    • (b) 7rad/s2
    • (c) 8rad/s2
    • (d) 9rad/s2
  13. A rod of mass 2kg and length 2m pivoted at one end starts from rest. A torque τ=6Nm is applied for 2s. Calculate the final angular velocity.

    • (a) 4.5rad/s
    • (b) 5.0rad/s
    • (c) 5.5rad/s
    • (d) 6.0rad/s
  14. A particle of mass 0.4kg moves in a circle of radius 3m at v=12m/s. Calculate the angular momentum about the center.

    • (a) 12kgm2/s
    • (b) 14.4kgm2/s
    • (c) 16.8kgm2/s
    • (d) 18.0kgm2/s
  15. A hoop of mass 2kg and radius 0.5m rolls down an incline at 30 without slipping (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the acceleration of the center of mass.

    • (a) 2.0m/s2
    • (b) 2.45m/s2
    • (c) 2.8m/s2
    • (d) 3.0m/s2
  16. A gyroscope with I=0.05kgm2 spins at ω=80rad/s, with mass 0.8kg and pivot to COM distance 0.04m (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the precession angular velocity.

    • (a) 0.196rad/s
    • (b) 0.22rad/s
    • (c) 0.25rad/s
    • (d) 0.28rad/s
  17. A wheel starts from rest with α=6rad/s2. Calculate the angular velocity after 2s.

    • (a) 10rad/s
    • (b) 12rad/s
    • (c) 14rad/s
    • (d) 16rad/s
  18. A uniform rod of mass 4kg and length 1.5m pivoted at one end has a force F=20N applied perpendicularly at the other end. Calculate the angular acceleration.

    • (a) 8rad/s2
    • (b) 9rad/s2
    • (c) 10rad/s2
    • (d) 11rad/s2
  19. A disk of I=0.15kgm2 rotates at ω=10rad/s. A torque τ=3Nm is applied. Calculate the power delivered.

    • (a) 25W
    • (b) 30W
    • (c) 35W
    • (d) 40W
  20. A skater with I=5kgm2 spins at ω=3rad/s. She reduces I to 2kgm2. Calculate her new angular velocity.

    • (a) 6.0rad/s
    • (b) 6.5rad/s
    • (c) 7.0rad/s
    • (d) 7.5rad/s
  21. A sphere rolls down an incline of height 6m without slipping (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the speed of the center of mass at the bottom.

    • (a) 7.5m/s
    • (b) 8.0m/s
    • (c) 8.5m/s
    • (d) 9.0m/s
  22. A bicycle wheel with I=0.4kgm2 spins at ω=25rad/s and turns at Ω=1.5rad/s. Calculate the gyroscopic couple.

    • (a) 12Nm
    • (b) 15Nm
    • (c) 18Nm
    • (d) 20Nm
  23. A point on a wheel of radius 0.8m rotates at ω=18rad/s. Calculate the centripetal acceleration.

    • (a) 220m/s2
    • (b) 240m/s2
    • (c) 259m/s2
    • (d) 280m/s2
  24. A disk starts from ωi=4rad/s with α=2rad/s2. Calculate the angular displacement after 5s.

    • (a) 40rad
    • (b) 45rad
    • (c) 50rad
    • (d) 55rad
  25. A 2kg mass on a 1.2m rod pivoted at the center has a force F=10N applied at 45 at the end. Calculate the angular acceleration.

    • (a) 5.0rad/s2
    • (b) 5.5rad/s2
    • (c) 5.9rad/s2
    • (d) 6.3rad/s2
  26. A rod of I=0.3kgm2 rotates at ωi=6rad/s. A torque τ=3Nm acts for 2s. Calculate the final angular velocity.

    • (a) 0rad/s
    • (b) 2rad/s
    • (c) 4rad/s
    • (d) 6rad/s
  27. A particle of mass 0.6kg moves in a circle of radius 2m at v=15m/s. Calculate the angular momentum about the center.

    • (a) 15kgm2/s
    • (b) 18kgm2/s
    • (c) 21kgm2/s
    • (d) 24kgm2/s
  28. A hoop of mass 3kg and radius 0.4m rolls down an incline at 60 without slipping (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the acceleration of the center of mass.

    • (a) 3.5m/s2
    • (b) 4.0m/s2
    • (c) 4.25m/s2
    • (d) 4.5m/s2
  29. A gyroscope with I=0.08kgm2 spins at ω=60rad/s, with mass 1kg and pivot to COM distance 0.03m (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the precession angular velocity.

    • (a) 0.05rad/s
    • (b) 0.06rad/s
    • (c) 0.07rad/s
    • (d) 0.08rad/s
  30. A wheel of I=0.25kgm2 starts from rest. A torque τ=5Nm is applied for 4s. Calculate the final angular velocity.

    • (a) 80rad/s
    • (b) 85rad/s
    • (c) 90rad/s
    • (d) 95rad/s
  31. A disk of mass 3kg and radius 0.5m rotates at ω=12rad/s. Calculate the rotational kinetic energy.

    • (a) 27J
    • (b) 30J
    • (c) 33J
    • (d) 36J
  32. A skater with I=8kgm2 spins at ω=2rad/s. She reduces I to 4kgm2. Calculate her new angular velocity.

    • (a) 3rad/s
    • (b) 4rad/s
    • (c) 5rad/s
    • (d) 6rad/s
  33. A sphere rolls up an incline at 45 with initial vCM=8m/s (g=9.8m/s2). Calculate the distance it travels before stopping.

    • (a) 5.0m
    • (b) 5.5m
    • (c) 6.0m
    • (d) 6.5m
  34. A bicycle wheel with I=0.5kgm2 spins at ω=30rad/s and turns at Ω=2rad/s. Calculate the gyroscopic couple.

    • (a) 25Nm
    • (b) 30Nm
    • (c) 35Nm
    • (d) 40Nm
  35. A rocket with I=400kgm2 spins at ω=12rad/s for stability. A torque τ=240Nm acts. Calculate the precession rate.

    • (a) 0.04rad/s
    • (b) 0.05rad/s
    • (c) 0.06rad/s
    • (d) 0.07rad/s

Conceptual Problems

  1. What does angular velocity represent?
  • (a) Rate of change of linear velocity
  • (b) Rate of change of angular displacement
  • (c) Rate of change of torque
  • (d) Rate of change of moment of inertia
  1. What causes torque in rotational motion?
  • (a) Force applied at the axis
  • (b) Force applied perpendicular to the radius
  • (c) Force applied parallel to the radius
  • (d) Force applied randomly
  1. What does the moment of inertia depend on?
  • (a) Mass only
  • (b) Radius only
  • (c) Mass and its distribution from the axis
  • (d) Angular velocity
  1. When is angular momentum conserved?
  • (a) When net external force is zero
  • (b) When net external torque is zero
  • (c) When kinetic energy is conserved
  • (d) When linear momentum is conserved
  1. What is the unit of rotational kinetic energy?
  • (a) Nm
  • (b) J
  • (c) kgm2/s
  • (d) W
  1. What happens to angular velocity when moment of inertia decreases?
  • (a) Decreases
  • (b) Increases
  • (c) Remains the same
  • (d) Becomes zero
  1. What does rolling without slipping imply?
  • (a) vCM=Rω
  • (b) vCMRω
  • (c) vCM=0
  • (d) ω=0
  1. What is the physical significance of precession?
  • (a) Change in spin speed
  • (b) Change in the axis of rotation’s orientation
  • (c) Change in linear velocity
  • (d) Change in moment of inertia
  1. How does friction affect rolling motion down an incline?
  • (a) Provides linear acceleration
  • (b) Provides torque for rotation
  • (c) Causes slipping
  • (d) Reduces angular velocity
  1. What is the dimension of angular momentum?
  • (a) [ML2T1]
  • (b) [MLT1]
  • (c) [ML2T2]
  • (d) [LT1]
  1. What does a zero angular acceleration imply?
  • (a) No rotation
  • (b) Constant angular velocity
  • (c) No torque
  • (d) No angular momentum
  1. What is the significance of 12Iω2?
  • (a) Angular momentum
  • (b) Rotational kinetic energy
  • (c) Torque
  • (d) Moment of inertia
  1. What happens to the speed of a rolling object down an incline compared to a sliding object?
  • (a) Rolling is faster
  • (b) Sliding is faster
  • (c) Both are the same
  • (d) Depends on the object
  1. What does the gyroscopic couple do in a turning bicycle?
  • (a) Increases speed
  • (b) Stabilizes the bike
  • (c) Reduces angular velocity
  • (d) Increases friction
  1. How does angular velocity affect precession rate?
  • (a) Higher ω increases precession
  • (b) Higher ω decreases precession
  • (c) No effect
  • (d) Depends on torque

Derivation Problems

  1. Derive the rotational kinematic equation ωf=ωi+αt.

  2. Derive the moment of inertia of a uniform rod about its end.

  3. Derive the rotational kinetic energy formula KErot=12Iω2.

  4. Derive the conservation of angular momentum for a skater pulling in her arms.

  5. Derive the condition for rolling without slipping vCM=Rω.

  6. Derive the precession angular velocity Ω=τL.

  7. Derive the moment of inertia of a disk about its center.

  8. Derive the total kinetic energy of a rolling object.

  9. Derive the acceleration of a cylinder rolling down an incline.

  10. Derive the angular momentum of a particle L=mvrsinθ.

  11. Derive the work done by a constant torque W=τθ.

  12. Derive the final angular velocity using the work-energy theorem.

  13. Derive the velocity of a rolling object down an incline using energy conservation.

  14. Derive the gyroscopic couple in a turning bicycle wheel.

  15. Derive the stability condition for a spinning top.


NEET-style Conceptual Problems

  1. What is the unit of torque in SI units?
  • (a) Nm
  • (b) J
  • (c) kgm2/s
  • (d) W
  1. What does a zero angular velocity at the top of a rolling object’s path indicate?
  • (a) Object is still rotating
  • (b) Object stops rotating
  • (c) Object is sliding
  • (d) Object is at rest
  1. Which quantity is conserved in a system with no external torque?
  • (a) Angular momentum
  • (b) Linear momentum
  • (c) Kinetic energy
  • (d) Potential energy
  1. What happens to rotational kinetic energy when angular velocity doubles?
  • (a) Doubles
  • (b) Triples
  • (c) Quadruples
  • (d) Halves
  1. What is the dimension of moment of inertia?
  • (a) [ML2]
  • (b) [MLT1]
  • (c) [ML2T1]
  • (d) [LT2]
  1. What does angular acceleration represent?
  • (a) Rate of change of angular velocity
  • (b) Rate of change of linear velocity
  • (c) Rate of change of torque
  • (d) Rate of change of moment of inertia
  1. What is the role of torque in rotational motion?
  • (a) Causes linear acceleration
  • (b) Causes angular acceleration
  • (c) Causes linear displacement
  • (d) Causes angular displacement
  1. What happens to the moment of inertia when mass is moved closer to the axis?
  • (a) Increases
  • (b) Decreases
  • (c) Remains the same
  • (d) Becomes zero
  1. Why is angular momentum conserved in a spinning skater?
  • (a) Net external force is zero
  • (b) Net external torque is zero
  • (c) Kinetic energy is conserved
  • (d) Linear momentum is conserved
  1. What is the unit of angular momentum?
  • (a) kgm2/s
  • (b) Nm
  • (c) J
  • (d) W
  1. What does a constant angular velocity imply?
  • (a) Zero angular acceleration
  • (b) Zero torque
  • (c) Zero angular momentum
  • (d) Zero kinetic energy
  1. Which motion involves both translation and rotation?
  • (a) Pure rotation
  • (b) Pure translation
  • (c) Rolling motion
  • (d) Sliding motion
  1. What is the direction of precession in a gyroscope?
  • (a) Along the spin axis
  • (b) Perpendicular to the torque and spin axis
  • (c) Opposite to the torque
  • (d) Along the linear velocity
  1. What does a pseudo-force do in a rotating frame?
  • (a) Conserves angular momentum
  • (b) Affects rotational dynamics
  • (c) Provides centripetal force
  • (d) Reduces friction
  1. What is the dimension of angular velocity?
  • (a) [T1]
  • (b) [MLT1]
  • (c) [LT1]
  • (d) [ML2T1]
  1. What is the role of rotational kinetic energy in rolling motion?
  • (a) Increases linear speed
  • (b) Contributes to total kinetic energy
  • (c) Reduces angular velocity
  • (d) Increases potential energy
  1. What happens to angular velocity during precession?
  • (a) Increases
  • (b) Decreases
  • (c) Remains the same
  • (d) Becomes zero
  1. Why does a rolling object have less acceleration than a sliding object?
  • (a) Rotational energy reduces linear acceleration
  • (b) Friction increases acceleration
  • (c) Gravity is less for rolling
  • (d) Mass distribution changes
  1. What is the significance of Iω?
  • (a) Rotational kinetic energy
  • (b) Angular momentum
  • (c) Torque
  • (d) Moment of inertia
  1. What is the unit of the moment of inertia?
  • (a) kgm2
  • (b) Nm
  • (c) J
  • (d) kgm/s
  1. What does a zero torque imply?
  • (a) No rotation
  • (b) Constant angular velocity
  • (c) No angular momentum
  • (d) No kinetic energy
  1. What is the physical significance of τ=Iα?
  • (a) Work-energy theorem
  • (b) Newton’s second law for rotation
  • (c) Angular momentum conservation
  • (d) Power in rotation
  1. Why does a gyroscope precess instead of falling?
  • (a) Linear momentum is conserved
  • (b) Angular momentum causes the axis to rotate
  • (c) Torque increases spin speed
  • (d) Friction prevents falling
  1. What is the dimension of torque?
  • (a) [ML2T2]
  • (b) [MLT1]
  • (c) [LT2]
  • (d) [ML2T1]
  1. How does friction contribute to rolling motion?
  • (a) Increases linear speed
  • (b) Provides torque for rotation
  • (c) Reduces angular momentum
  • (d) Increases potential energy
  1. What is the role of conservation in a spinning top?
  • (a) Determines linear speed
  • (b) Maintains angular momentum
  • (c) Increases kinetic energy
  • (d) Reduces torque
  1. What does a zero total kinetic energy in rolling indicate?
  • (a) Object is still rotating
  • (b) Object is at rest
  • (c) Object is sliding
  • (d) Object is precessing
  1. What is the physical significance of rFsinθ?
  • (a) Angular momentum
  • (b) Rotational kinetic energy
  • (c) Torque
  • (d) Moment of inertia
  1. What is the dimension of precession angular velocity?
  • (a) [T1]
  • (b) [MLT1]
  • (c) [LT1]
  • (d) [ML2T1]
  1. Why does moment of inertia depend on the axis of rotation?
  • (a) Mass changes with axis
  • (b) Distance from the axis affects r2
  • (c) Angular velocity changes
  • (d) Torque changes

NEET-style Numerical Problems

  1. A wheel starts from rest with α=3rad/s2. What is the angular velocity after 4s?
  • (a) 10rad/s
  • (b) 12rad/s
  • (c) 14rad/s
  • (d) 16rad/s
  1. A disk of I=0.2kgm2 rotates at ω=10rad/s. What is the angular momentum?
  • (a) 1.5kgm2/s
  • (b) 2.0kgm2/s
  • (c) 2.5kgm2/s
  • (d) 3.0kgm2/s
  1. A cylinder rolls down an incline of height 3m without slipping (g=9.8m/s2). What is the speed of the center of mass at the bottom?
  • (a) 5.0m/s
  • (b) 5.5m/s
  • (c) 6.0m/s
  • (d) 6.5m/s
  1. A skater with I=4kgm2 spins at ω=5rad/s. She reduces I to 2kgm2. What is her new angular velocity?
  • (a) 8rad/s
  • (b) 9rad/s
  • (c) 10rad/s
  • (d) 11rad/s
  1. A sphere of mass 2kg and radius 0.3m rolls without slipping at vCM=4m/s. What is the total kinetic energy?
    - (a) 15J
    - (b) 16J
    - (c) 17J
    - (d) 18J

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