Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-b-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/paper-2a/section-c/c12/solution

Let be the polar second moment of area. A twist gradient gives shear strain and shear stress . Integrating its moment over a cross section yields
The difference in torque on an element is , while its angular inertia is . Hence the torsional wave equation in a circular shaft is
For uniform rotation at , transmitted power is , so the given values give . The elastic strain energy and rotational kinetic energy are
The torsional transit time is . If the requested maximum rates mean stored-energy-over-transit-time estimates, they are
These estimates require a physical qualification. They are not separate upper bounds on transmitted mechanical power. The exact local energy flux of a torsional wave is the stress-work rate
For the steadily rotating twisted shaft its magnitude is , even though this exceeds . Writing local energy densities and gives . A single travelling torsional wave has equal strain and kinetic energies; the steady shaft can instead be represented by oppositely travelling components whose powers largely cancel. Its stored strain pattern is not a fuel consumed once per transit. This distinguishes an energy-content estimate from the actual stress-mediated transport.

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