A uniform wheel is set spinning and then experiences a constant frictional torque…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · System of Particles and Rotational Motion · System of Particles and Rotational Motion
Problem
A uniform wheel is set spinning and then experiences a constant frictional torque that opposes its motion. Which statement best explains why the wheel’s angular speed decreases uniformly with time?
(a) The torque grows larger as the wheel slows, causing an exponential decrease in angular speed.
(b) Because angular momentum is conserved, the wheel’s angular speed should remain constant despite the torque.
(c) The constant frictional torque produces a constant angular acceleration opposite the rotation, so angular speed decreases linearly with time.
(d) The frictional torque removes the same percentage of the wheel’s kinetic energy each second, so the angular speed decreases exponentially with time.