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Physics Rotational Mechanics Level: High School

Conservation of Angular Momentum

A wad of sticky clay of mass m = 5.0 g and velocity v1= 110 m / s fired at a solid cylinder of mass M = 15.0 kg and radius R = 25 cm (see the figure at “click here”) . The cylinder is initially at rest and is mounted on a fixed horizontal axle that runs through the center of mass . The line of motion of the projectile is perpendicular to the axle and at a distance d = 22 cm , less than R , from the center .

a) Find the angular speed of the system just after the clay strikes and sticks to the surface of the cylinder .

b) Is mechanical energy conserved in this process ?