Physics · Equilibrium of rigid bodies, rigid body rotation and equations of rotational motion, comparison of linear and rotational motions

A solid sphere rolls without slipping on a rough horizontal floor, moving with a

A solid sphere rolls without slipping on a rough horizontal floor, moving with a speed \( \boldsymbol{v} . \) It makes an elastic collision with a smooth vertical wall. After impact, This question has multiple correct options

  • A. it will move with a speed \( v \) initially.
  • B. its motion will be rolling without slipping
  • C. its motion will be rolling with slipping initially and its rotational motion will stop momentarily at some instant.
  • D. its motion will be rolling without slipping only after some time.

Step-by-step solution

After an elastic collision with a smooth vertical wall, the sphere's translational velocity reverses direction (becomes -v) while its angular velocity ω remains unchanged (clockwise, ω = v/R). Initially, the sphere slips because the velocity condition for rolling without slipping (v_cm = -ωR for leftward motion) is not satisfied. Friction from the rough floor acts to the right, providing a torque that reduces the clockwise angular velocity to zero and then reverses it, while also decelerating the leftward translational motion. Eventually, the sphere reaches a state where v_cm = -ωR (with ω anticlockwise), i.e., rolling without slipping. Thus, the sphere will roll without slipping only after some time.
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