1993 Paper 3 Q11

Year: 1993
Paper: 3
Question Number: 11

Course: zNo longer examinable
Section: Moments of inertia

Difficulty: 1700.0 Banger: 1500.0

Problem

In this question, all gravitational forces are to be neglected. A rigid frame is constructed from 12 equal uniform rods, each of length \(a\) and mass \(m,\) forming the edges of a cube. Three of the edges are \(OA,OB\) and \(OC,\) and the vertices opposite \(O,A,B\) and \(C\) are \(O',A',B'\) and \(C'\) respectively. Forces act along the lines as follows, in the directions indicated by the order of the letters: \begin{alignat*}{3} 2mg\mbox{ along }OA, & \qquad & mg\mbox{ along }AC', & \qquad & \sqrt{2}mg\mbox{ along }O'A,\\ \sqrt{2}mg\mbox{ along }OA', & & 2mg\mbox{ along }C'B, & & mg\mbox{ along }A'C. \end{alignat*}
  1. The frame is freely pivoted at \(O\). Show that the direction of the line about which it will start to rotate is $\begin{pmatrix}1\\ 1\\ 2 \end{pmatrix}$ with respect to axes along \(OA\), \(OB\) and \(OC\) respectively.
  2. Show that the moment of inertia of the rod \(OA\) about the axis \(OO'\) is \(2ma^2/9\) and about a parallel axis through its mid-point is \(ma^2/18\). Hence find the moment of inertia of \(B'C\) about \(OO'\) and show that the moment of inertia of the frame about \(OO'\) is \(14ma^2/3\). If the frame is freely pivoted about the line \(OO'\) and the forces continue to act along the specified lines, find the initial angular acceleration of the frame.

No solution available for this problem.

Rating Information

Difficulty Rating: 1700.0

Difficulty Comparisons: 0

Banger Rating: 1500.0

Banger Comparisons: 0

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Problem source
\textit{In this question, all gravitational forces are to be neglected. }

A rigid frame is constructed from 12 equal uniform rods, each of length
$a$ and mass $m,$ forming the edges of a cube. Three of the edges
are $OA,OB$ and $OC,$ and the vertices opposite $O,A,B$ and $C$
are $O',A',B'$ and $C'$ respectively. Forces act along the lines
as follows, in the directions indicated by the order of the letters:
\begin{alignat*}{3}
2mg\mbox{ along }OA, & \qquad & mg\mbox{ along }AC', & \qquad & \sqrt{2}mg\mbox{ along }O'A,\\
\sqrt{2}mg\mbox{ along }OA', &  & 2mg\mbox{ along }C'B, &  & mg\mbox{ along }A'C.
\end{alignat*}
\begin{questionparts}
\item The frame is freely pivoted at $O$. Show that the direction of the line
about which it will start to rotate is
$\begin{pmatrix}1\\
1\\
2
\end{pmatrix}$ with respect to axes
along $OA$, $OB$ and $OC$ respectively.
\item Show that the moment of inertia of the rod 
$OA$ about the axis $OO'$ is $2ma^2/9$ and about a parallel axis through
 its mid-point is $ma^2/18$. Hence find the 
moment of inertia of $B'C$ about $OO'$ and show that the moment of inertia
of the frame about $OO'$ is $14ma^2/3$.  If the frame
 is freely pivoted about the line $OO'$ and the forces continue 
to act along the specified lines, find the initial angular 
acceleration of the frame.   
\end{questionparts}