Giancoli 7th Edition textbook cover
Giancoli's Physics: Principles with Applications, 6th Edition
8
Rotational Motion
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8-1: Angular Quantities
8-2 and 8-3: Constant Angular Acceleration; Rolling
8-4: Torque
8-5 and 8-6: Rotational Dynamics
8-7: Rotational Kinetic Energy
8-8: Angular Momentum
8-9: Angular Quantities as Vectors

Problem 34
A
a) 2.10×103kgm22.10 \times 10^{-3} \textrm{kgm}^2
b) 0.0718Nm0.0718 \textrm{Nm}
Giancoli 6th Edition, Chapter 8, Problem 34 solution video poster
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COMMENTS
By Dfirst05 on Fri, 2/13/2015 - 4:57 AM

On part B shouldn't the final answer be Applied Torque = 0.0598 Nm since you are adding a negative frictional torque?

By Mr. Dychko on Sat, 2/14/2015 - 12:13 AM

Hi Dfirst05, thanks for the question about negative signs with torque. Depending on your perspective, the video has a slight error. Let me explain. At 3:59, I mention that the frictional torque τfr=0.005983 N m\tau_{fr} = 0.005983 \textrm{ N m}, positive. Technically, you are correct in saying the frictional torque should be negative since I took the angular acceleration due to friction to be negative. As a matter of personal preference, and as an obvious source of confusion for students in this case (sorry!), I just wanted the magnitude of the frictional torque, without caring about it's sign. The reason for this is that later, when I state the net torque, I wrote it as τappliedτfr=Iα\tau_{applied} - \tau_{fr} = I \alpha, and take notice of the minus in this equation. That minus in the equation accounts for the direction. My personal preference is to write Net Force or Net Torque with pluses and minus in the equation to account for direction, and then always substitute magnitudes in for the values. Not everyone does it this way. The alternative is to write the net torque as τapplied+τfr=Iα\tau_{applied} + \tau_{fr} = I \alpha and substitute a negative frictional torque. So the two ways to a correct answer are:

Option 1: put negatives in the net torque equation, and substitute magnitudes

This is the option used in the video. In this case τappliedτfr=Iα\tau_{applied} - \tau_{fr} = I \alpha and torques are always positive, no matter what, since their direction are accounted for in the equation.

Option 2: always put positives in the net torque equation, and substitute torques with their correct signs

This option is more common in textbooks. In this case τapplied+τfr=Iα\tau_{applied} + \tau_{fr} = I \alpha and the frictional torque would be substituted as a negative number. With this approach you would be subtracting a negative frictional torque at 6:22 in the video since the final equation would be τapplied=Iατfr\tau_{applied} = I \alpha - \tau_{fr}

With either approach, the correct answer is 0.0718 N m0.0718 \textrm{ N m}. Both approaches for doing net torque (or net force) are common, and it's just important to recognize which approach is being used, and being consistent.

I hope this helps,
Mr. Dychko

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