Question

Two discs which are rotating about their respective axis of rotation with angular speed $2rad{{s}^{-1}}$and $5rad{{s}^{-1}}$ are brought in contact such that their axes of rotation will coincide. Now the angular speed of the system becomes $4rad{{s}^{-1}}$. If the moment of inertia of the second disc is $1\times {{10}^{-1}}kg{{m}^{2}}$, then what will be the moment of inertia of the first disc (in$kg{{m}^{2}}$)?
$\begin{align}
  & A.0.25\times {{10}^{-3}} \\
 & B.1.5\times {{10}^{-3}} \\
 & C.1.25\times {{10}^{-3}} \\
 & D.0.75\times {{10}^{-3}} \\
 & E.0.5\times {{10}^{-3}} \\
\end{align}$

Answer 1

Hint: Here, first the two discs are rotating individually, and then the axis of rotation will have coincided. The angular momentum is considered. So the law of conservation of angular momentum is used in the solution to find ${{I}_{1}}$. This will help you in answering this question.

Complete step-by-step solution
Here it is given that there are two discs rotating about their respective axis of rotation with their angular speeds ${{\omega }_{1}}$and ${{\omega }_{2}}$respectively.

${{I}_{2}}$ will be representing the moment of inertia of second disc $=1\times {{10}^{-1}}kg{{m}^{2}}$
${{\omega }_{1}}$ will be representing the angular speed of the first disc $=2rad{{s}^{-1}}$
${{\omega }_{2}}$ will be representing the angular speed of the second disc $=5rad{{s}^{-1}}$
Now, when the two discs are brought into contact with each other such that their axes of rotation coincide together. Now the two discs will be rotating as a system with a new angular speed.
${{\omega }_{3}}$ will be representing the angular speed of system $=4rad{{s}^{-1}}$

Now to find the moment of inertia of the first disc we will use the law of conservation of angular momentum.
Now the formula of angular momentum can be shown as,
$L={{L}_{1}}+{{L}_{2}}$
Where ${{L}_{1}}$ will be the angular momentum of disc one, ${{L}_{2}}$ be the angular momentum of the second one, $L$ be the angular momentum of the system.
$\begin{align}
  & L={{L}_{1}}+{{L}_{2}} \\
 & \Rightarrow \left( {{I}_{1}}+{{I}_{2}} \right){{\omega }_{3}}={{I}_{1}}{{\omega }_{1}}+{{I}_{2}}{{\omega }_{2}} \\
\end{align}$
Let us substitute the values we know from the question in this,
$\begin{align}
  & \Rightarrow \left( {{I}_{1}}+1\times {{10}^{-1}} \right)\times 4={{I}_{1}}\times 2+1\times {{10}^{-1}}\times 5 \\
 & \Rightarrow 4{{I}_{1}}+4\times {{10}^{-1}}=2{{I}_{1}}+5\times {{10}^{-1}} \\
\end{align}$
Rearranging the equation can be shown as,
$\begin{align}
  & \Rightarrow 4{{I}_{1}}-2{{I}_{1}}=5\times {{10}^{-1}}-4\times {{10}^{-1}} \\
 & \Rightarrow 2{{I}_{1}}=1\times {{10}^{-1}} \\
\end{align}$
Hence the current will be,
${{I}_{1}}=0.5\times {{10}^{-1}}kg{{m}^{2}}$
Therefore the moment of inertia of the first disc has been obtained. The correct answer has been mentioned as option E.

Note: Here when the two discs coincide about their axis of rotation angular momentum is conserved. The angular velocity of the system decreases after coinciding. The angular velocity of the system decreases after coinciding together with the axis.