Two ice skaters, both of mass 68 kg, approach on parallel paths 1.6 m apart. Both are moving at 3.5 m/s with their arms outstretched. They join hands as they pass, still maintaining their 1.6-m separation, and begin rotating about one another. Treat the skaters as particles with regard to their rotational inertia. If they now pull on each other’s hands, reducing their radius to half its original value, what is their common angular speed after reducing their radius?
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16. Angular Momentum
Conservation of Angular Momentum
Problem 53d
Textbook Question
(III) On a level billiards table a cue ball, initially at rest at point O on the table, is struck so that it leaves the cue stick with a center-of-mass speed v0 and ω0 a “reverse” spin of angular speed (see Fig. 11–41). A kinetic friction force acts on the ball as it initially skids across the table. If ω0 is 10% larger than wC i.e.,ω0 = 1.10wC, determine the ball’s cm velocity vCM when it starts to roll without slipping. [Hint: The ball possesses two types of angular momentum, the first due to the linear speed vCM of its cm relative to point O, the second due to the spin at angular velocity ω about its own cm. The ball’s total L about O is the sum of these two angular momenta.]


1
Identify the key concepts: The problem involves rolling motion, angular momentum, and the condition for rolling without slipping. The cue ball transitions from skidding to rolling without slipping, and we need to determine the center-of-mass velocity (v_CM) at that point.
Understand the condition for rolling without slipping: For rolling without slipping, the linear velocity of the center of mass (v_CM) and the angular velocity (ω) are related by the equation v_CM = Rω, where R is the radius of the ball.
Apply the principle of angular momentum: The total angular momentum (L) about point O is the sum of two components: (1) the angular momentum due to the linear motion of the center of mass, L_CM = m * v_CM * R, and (2) the angular momentum due to the spin of the ball about its center, L_spin = I * ω, where I is the moment of inertia of the ball about its center.
Use the relationship between ω₀ and ω_C: The problem states that the initial angular velocity ω₀ is 10% larger than ω_C, i.e., ω₀ = 1.10 * ω_C. Here, ω_C is the angular velocity corresponding to the initial center-of-mass velocity v₀, given by ω_C = v₀ / R.
Set up the equations of motion: The kinetic friction force causes a torque that changes both the linear velocity (v_CM) and the angular velocity (ω) of the ball. Use the equations of motion for both linear and rotational dynamics to relate the initial conditions (v₀, ω₀) to the final condition (v_CM = Rω) when rolling without slipping begins. Solve these equations to find v_CM.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Angular Momentum
Angular momentum is a measure of the rotational motion of an object and is defined as the product of the object's moment of inertia and its angular velocity. For a rigid body, it can be calculated about any point, and it is conserved in the absence of external torques. In this scenario, the cue ball has angular momentum due to its spin and its motion across the table, which must be considered to analyze its motion.
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Kinetic Friction
Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of two surfaces sliding past each other. It plays a crucial role in the transition from sliding to rolling motion, as it provides the necessary torque to change the ball's motion from skidding to rolling without slipping. The coefficient of kinetic friction determines the magnitude of this force, influencing how quickly the ball can start rolling.
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Rolling Without Slipping
Rolling without slipping occurs when the point of contact between a rolling object and the surface does not slide. This condition is characterized by the relationship between the linear velocity of the center of mass and the angular velocity of the object, given by v_CM = rω, where r is the radius of the object. Understanding this concept is essential for determining the final velocity of the cue ball as it transitions from sliding to rolling.
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