Question

Two small balls of masses M = 4 kg and m = 2 kg are connected by a horizontal

massless rod of length L = 3 m. The system is rotating with an angular speed

ω = 8 rad/s about an axle at a distance x from the mass M, see Fig. 8.39. Find

the kinetic energy of the system and the net force on each mass: (a) when

x = L/2, (b) when xCM = mL/(M + m); which is the position of the center of

mass of the system.

Answer 1

The kinetic energy of the system:

$T=\frac{1}{2}I\omega^2$