Question

A Texas cockroach of mass 0.177 kg runs counterclockwise around the rim of a lazy Susan (a circular disk mounted on a vertical axle) that has a radius 14.1 cm, rotational inertia 5.88 x 10-3 kg·m2, and frictionless bearings. The cockroach's speed (relative to the ground) is 2.73 m/s, and the lazy Susan turns clockwise with angular velocity ω0 = 3.38 rad/s. The cockroach finds a bread crumb on the rim and, of course, stops. (a) What is the angular speed of the lazy Susan after the cockroach stops? (b) Is mechanical energy conserved as it stops?

Answer 1