Question

The physics students wish to test the law of conservation of angular momentum and decides to perform a completely inelastic collision between two discs. They attach disc 1 (from part 1) to the rotational sensor then give it a spin. After about 4 seconds, they drop disc 2 on top of disc 1. The whole process takes only ~10 seconds total. The rotational sensor records the angle and velocity of the setup every 0.05 s.

Question: Compare the rate of decrease for the angular velocity as a function of time before and after the collision. Why does the angular velocity decrease with time? Can you explain why there is a difference in the rate of decrease before and after the collision? Think about what changes before and after the collision and whether those factors will affect the rate of velocity decrease or not.

Answer 1