A hollow spherical ball of uniform density rolls up a curved surface with an initial velocity 3m/s (as shown in figure). Maximum height with respect to the initial position covered by it will be ____ cm.
Answer: 75
Solution
A hollow sphere has moment of inertia I=32mR2, so when it rolls without slipping its total kinetic energy is 21mv2+21Iω2=21mv2+21⋅32mR2⋅R2v2=65mv2. At the highest point the ball is momentarily at rest and all this energy has become gravitational potential energy, so 65mv2=mgh. Hence h=6g5v2=6(10)5(3)2=0.75m. The maximum height reached above the initial position is 75cm.