The angular momentum of a rotating space probe about its spin axis evolves according…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · System of Particles and Rotational Motion · System of Particles and Rotational Motion

Problem

The angular momentum

L

of a rotating space probe about its spin axis evolves according to the piece-wise description below. • Segment 1:

0 \leq t \leq 2\,\text{s}

—

L

increases linearly from

0

8\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{s}

. • Segment 2:

2 \leq t \leq 6\,\text{s}

—

L

decreases linearly from

8\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{s}

-4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{s}

. • Segment 3:

6 \leq t \leq 10\,\text{s}

—

L

remains constant at

-4\,\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^2/\text{s}

. Neglect any changes in the probe’s rotational inertia during the interval. (a) Determine the numerical value (magnitude and sign) of the net external torque acting on the probe during Segment 1. (b) Determine the numerical value of the net external torque during Segment 2. (c) Compute the angular impulse delivered to the probe over the entire

0

10\,\text{s}

interval. (d) Verify that your result in part (c) is consistent with the overall change in angular momentum of the probe during the same interval.

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