(a)
Moment of inertia of disc I=I1 Angular speed of disc I=ω1 Angular speed of disc II =I2 Angular momentum of disc II =ω1 Angular momentum of disc I, L1=I1ω1 Angular momentum of disc II, L2=I2ω2 Total initial angular momenum, Li=I1ω1+I2ω2
When the two discs are joined together, their moments of inertia get added up.
Moment of inertia of the system of two discs, I=I1+I2
Let ω be the angular speed of the system.
Total final angular momentum, LY=(I1+I2)ω
Using the law of conservation of angular momentum, we have:
L1=LiI1ω1+I2ω2=(I1+I2)ω∴ω=I1ω1+I2ω2I1+I2
(b)Kinetic energy of disc I, E1=12I1ω21
Kinetic energy of disc II, E2=12I2ω22
Total initial kinetic energy, Ei=12(I1ω21+I2ω22)
When the discs are joined, their moments of inertia get added up.
Moment of inertia of the system, I=I1+I2
Angular speed of the system = ω
Final kinetic energy Ef:
=12(I1+I2)ω2=12(I1+I2)(I1ω1+I2ω2I1+I2)2=12(I1ω1+I2ω2)2I1+I2
∴Ei−Ei=12(I1ω21+I2ω22)−(I1ω1+I2ω2)22(I1+I2)=12I1ω21+12I2ω22−12I21o21(I1+I2)−12I22ω22(I1+I2)−122I1I2ω1ω2(I1+I2)
=1(I1+I2)[12I21ω21+12I1I2ω21+12I1I2ω22+12I22ω2−12I21ω21−12I22ω22−I1I2ω1ω2]=I1I22(I1+I2)[ω21+ω22−2a1ω2]=I1I2(ω1−ω2)22(I1+I2)
All the qauantities on RHS are positive. ∴Ei−Ef>0Ei>Ef
The loss of KE can be attributed to the frictional force that comes into play when the two discs come in contact with each other.