Past exam of the physics 1 paper of the University of Oxford / 2019 resit / 11

About a fixed origin in an inertial frame, the angular momentum and torque areFor a specified fixed axis with unit vector $\hat{\mathbf{n}}$, use the projections $L_n=\hat{\mathbf{n}}\cdot \mathbf{L}$ and ${\tau }_n=\hat{\mathbf{n}}\cdot \mathbf{\tau }$. The mass is constant. Differentiating and applying Newton's second law,Hence ${\dot{L}}_n={\tau }_n$ for the fixed axis. If the net torque vanishes, the corresponding angular momentum is conserved. Fixing the origin and axis is essential to this unmodified form of the law.

Take rightward translation as positive and counterclockwise angular acceleration $\alpha$ as positive. Let $f$ denote signed ground friction, positive to the right. The source's lower-tangent winding makes the tension exert counterclockwise torque $Tr$. For a horizontal pull, translation and rotation obeyThe final relation is the rolling without slipping constraint. Eliminating $f$ and $\alpha$ givesThus the requested magnitude of static friction isIt acts leftward. Released from rest, the spool accelerates rightward, toward the pulling hand, and rotates clockwise. There is no contradiction between leftward friction and rightward motion: static friction prevents slipping of the contact point, and the horizontal tension is larger than $|f|$ because $r<R$.

Keep the signs of part i. The tension has horizontal component $T\cos \theta$ but still has counterclockwise torque $Tr$, since it is tangent to the axle. ThusSolving these equations gives the critical pulling angle of a rolling spool lawThe zero-acceleration angle is thereforeAt this angle the line of action of the pull passes through the ground contact, so its torque about that point vanishes. A spool initially at rest stays at rest while the contact constraints hold; one already rolling has zero acceleration, rather than being brought to rest.

For equilibrium the vertical normal force is $N=Mg-T\sin {\theta }_c$ and $|f|=T\cos {\theta }_c$. The static friction inequality $|f|\le \mu N$ becomesHence, for $0<r<R$,At this limit the normal force is still nonnegative; for finite $\mu$ and positive $r$ it is positive. For ${\theta }_c<\theta \le \pi /2$, the numerator of $a$ is negative. Released from rest, the spool rolls leftward, away from the pulling hand, with counterclockwise rotation, provided the assumed rolling without slipping and ground contact remain possible. The nonzero acceleration is not obtained by assuming that friction simply opposes the centre's motion.