Chapter 11, Problem 43

In the figure, two skaters, each of mass 51.5 kg, approach each other along parallel paths separated
by 3.55 m. They have opposite velocities of 1.95 m/s each. One skater carries one end of a long pole
of negligible mass, and the other skater grabs the other end as she passes. The skaters then rotate
about the center of the pole. Assume that the friction between skates and ice is negligible. What are

(a) the radius of the circle,

(b) the angular speed of the skaters, and
(c) the kinetic energy of the two-skater system? Next,
the skaters each pull along the pole until they are
separated by 1.65 m. What then are
(d) their angular speed and
(e) the kinetic energy of the system?
Given:
d = 3.55 m
V = 1.95 m/s
M = 51.5 kg
(a) R = 3.55m/2 = 1.775 m
(b) = v/r = 1.098591549 rad/s
(c) I = mr2 = 2(51.5kg)(1.775m)2 = 324.514375 kgm2 .
Therefore, Eq. 11-27 leads to K = I2 = (113.142kgm2)(0.5533rad/s)2 =
195.8287499 J
(d) Iii = (324.514375 kg.m2)( 1.098591549 rad/s) = Iff .
Since d = 1.65m r = 0.825m
If = mr2 = 2(51.5kg)(0.825m)2 = 70.104375kg.m2
Wf= 5.085399448 rad/s
(e) Kf = (Iff2) = 906.4946999 J