Question

The 20kg sphere rolls down the inclined plane without slipping. Determine the angular acceleration of the sphere and the acceleration of its mass center

Answer 1

This is a case of rolling friction. The force, F, required for rolling a cylinder of mass, m, and radius, r, on a horizontal plane = m*g*a/r. ——————(1)

where, a = coefficient rolling friction of wheel material and plane material, and

g = acceleration due to gravity.

Since the cylinder is on a plane making an angle , B, with the horizontal, the component of cylinder weight acting parallel to the inclined plane = m*g*sinB