User:Msf24

From PrattWiki
Revision as of 03:44, 30 December 2009 by Msf24 (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Work to see how fast one must pull on toilet paper to get it to tear:

let \(f\) be the force required to tear it

let \(M\) be the Mass of the toilet paper roll

let \(I\) be the rotational inertia of the roll \(I\)= \(\frac{1}{2}(M)(R)^2\) because it is a solid cylinder

let \(R\) be the radius of the roll of toilet paper

And let \(\tau\)be the torque

now in order to rip the toilet paper, \(\tau = f \times R\), and we also know that \(\tau = \frac{1}{2} (I)(\omega)^2\)





Variations/Modifications:

You could require the students to derive \(I\)

You could require the students to calculate \(M\) given information about the dimensions and how heavy some toilet paper is