 Solution

The moment of inertia of a uniform solid cylinder is taken about its symmetry axis. Write its mass density as ${\rho }_c=m/(\pi a^{2}L)$. A coaxial shell of radius $r$ and thickness $dr$ has mass $dm=2\pi {\rho }_{c}Lrdr$. ThusA hollow cylinder would have a different moment of inertia; uniform solid density is the intended assumption.

Let $s$ measure the centre's displacement uphill from its initial position, and choose signed angular velocity $\omega$ so that uphill rolling without slipping has $\dot{s}=a\omega$. Let $F$ be the signed contact force uphill. The translation and rotation equations areThe minus sign in the torque equation follows from the chosen rolling sense: uphill contact force opposes the positive spin. Under rolling without slipping, $\ddot{s}=a\dot{\omega }$. Eliminating $F$ givesUsing $s(0)=0$ and $\dot{s}(0)=V$, the no-slip motion and maximum vertical rise areIndeed the centre turns at $t=3V/(2g\sin \alpha )$, reaching $s_{\max }=3V^2/(4g\sin \alpha )$, whose vertical component is the boxed height. Conservation of energy independently gives the same answer from initial kinetic energy $m{V}^2/2+I(V/a{)}^2/2=3m{V}^2/4$.

The available static friction is at most $\mu mg\cos \alpha$. It can supply the required uphill force exactly when $mg\sin \alpha /3\le \mu mg\cos \alpha$. ThereforeInterpret the stated friction magnitude as limiting static friction and as kinetic friction during slip, with the same coefficient. Take $0<\alpha <\pi /2$, $\mu \ge 0$. In the slipping regime the contact point moves downhill relative to the slope, so kinetic friction acts uphill. To verify this direction rather than assume it unchecked, solve with $F=\mu mg\cos \alpha$. Define $b=g(\sin \alpha -\mu \cos \alpha )>0$. The result isThe centre's speed is $|V-bt|$, with the sign of $v$ specifying ascent or descent. The contact point's relative velocity isThus the assumed uphill kinetic friction is consistent throughout both ascent and descent, including when the centre's velocity changes sign. There is no later return to rolling without slipping before reaching the bottom. This is the characteristic slipping solid cylinder on an incline regime.

The centre turns at $t_{\ast }=V/b$, givingThe formulas apply up to the positive return time $t_b=2V/b$. Substitution into the signed velocity and angular velocity givesThe return spin can have either sign and vanishes at $\tan \alpha =5\mu$. It reverses when $3\mu <\tan \alpha <5\mu$, although the contact point still slips downhill. The unchanged centre speed does not mean that no energy was dissipated: the rotational kinetic energy has decreased. Indeed integrating the frictional power $Fw<0$ giveswhich agrees with the difference of the initial and final rotational kinetic energies.