Rotational Dynamics Comparison
Hollow Cylinder vs. Solid Sphere
This simulation demonstrates how equal torques applied to a hollow cylinder and solid sphere of equal mass and radius result in different angular accelerations due to their different moments of inertia.
10
5
0.5
Hollow Cylinder
Solid Sphere
Hollow Cylinder
5.00 kg·m²
Moment of Inertia (mr²)
Solid Sphere
2.00 kg·m²
Moment of Inertia (⅖mr²)
Cylinder Angular Acceleration
2.00 rad/s²
α = τ/I
Sphere Angular Acceleration
5.00 rad/s²
α = τ/I
Physics Explanation
The solid sphere acquires greater angular acceleration because it has a smaller moment of inertia (I = ⅖mr²) compared to the hollow cylinder (I = mr²). Since angular acceleration α = τ/I, for equal torque τ, the object with smaller I will have greater α.
With current parameters, the sphere's angular acceleration is 2.50 times the cylinder's.
