Dear student:

This set of problems is designed as an strategy of our academic team in order to make you more
familiar with physical problems posed in the English language. They are meant to help you to
improve your understanding of the subject as well as strengthening your English skills.

1) Consider a homogeneous rectangle of mass M, base

B and height H. It is lying on the x-y plane with its lower
left corner corner attached to the origin of the
coordinate system. The rectangle can freely rotate
through a perpendicular axis passing through the
origin. Initially, the rectangle is at rest and is acted upon
by three forces of constant magnitude F. The first force
points is exerted perpendicularly at the middle point of
its base; the second force is applied at the right lower
corner of the rectangle, and points at 30º with respect
to the base. The third force is applied perpendicularly
at the upper left corner. Determine, with respect to the
origin of the coordinate system:

a) The net torque

b) The angular momentum at any time t.

c) How would these results change if the rectangle was a square with the same configuration of
applied forces?

2) Consider the system of two uniform disks shown in the figure. They have radii R 1 and R2 and
masses M1 and M2, respectively and are connected through a massless string. Initially, they rotate
with constant tangent speed v. Suddenly, a constant tangent force F is acted upon the larger disk and
the system is brought to rest after ten revolutions. Determine:

a) The effective net torque acting on the smaller disk

b) The time elapsed until the system stops rotating

3) Assume a ring and a disk are both uniform, of radius R and mass M. They lie at rest at the top of an
incline with their centers of mass at a height H, measured from the basis of the incline. They are
allowed to roll down the incline, but without slipping. Determine the time elapsed between the
arrivals to the base of the incline of the two solids.

4) Consider a uniform rod, of lenght L and mass M. It is attached to a

perpendicular axis passing through a hole on one of its ends and hangs
vertically. Then, a bullet of mass m and speed v is shot towards the rod and gets
attached to it. If the collision happens very quickly, determine

a) The energy lost during the collision

b) The maximum angle the rod deviates with respect to its original position
5) You are given two point masses m 1 and m2 which are used to balance horizontally a non-uniform
rod. The rod has length L and mass M, with linear mass density λ ( x )=k ( L2 − x 2 ) , where k is a
contant and x is the distance measured from its center. The rod is supported on a pivot located in its
center of mass and the mass m1 is put on its left end. Determine the position, as measured from the
middle point of the rod, at which you need to put the second mass m2, in order to keep the system in
static equilibrium.

6) An iceskater, of mass m, is moving with constant speed v and

carries a uniform rod, of length L and mass M, as it is depicted in
the figure. Another skater, with the same mass and speed,
approaches in the opposite sense of motion and grabs the rod by
its oder end.

A) Does the total angular momentum of the system skaters-rod remain constant during the process?

B) Does the total linear momentum of the system skaters-rod remain constant during the process?

C) Does the total mechanical energy of the system skaters-rod remain constant during the process?

D) Calculate the angular frequency of rotationof the rod when the second skater grabs the bar

E) Calculate the change of energy (if any) during the process

7) Let us consider a non-uniform archeological piece of

material, with total mass M which can, in first
approximation, be considered as a parallelepided of
length L. Assume that the piece is laid on two triangular
supports, as depicted in the figure. The separation of
the supports is b<L, and they are symmetrically
displaced from the ends of the piece. The rear support
has a normal N1=Mg/3. Determine

A) The position of the center of gravity of the

archeological piece

B) The maximum value of the mass m1 that can be put on top of the piece, at its left end.

C) The maximum value of the mass m2 that can be put on top of the piece, at its right end.