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TEST KEEP CLOSED

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER

Thermal Expansion

Thermal Conductivity

Balls in Rotating Cups

Two ping pong balls are kept in uniform circular motion in a vertical plane by means of a hand-cranked apparatus shown in the photo above. The apparatus consists of two cups attached to a long rod which is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the rod. One of the cups is attached at the end of the rod and the other is attached closer to the axis of rotation. A ball is placed in each cup, and the apparatus is first rotated at an angular velocity such that both balls stay in their respective cups (centripetal acceleration greater than the acceleration due to gravity). The angular velocity is gradually reduced and students are asked to predict which of the two balls will fall out first. Since the centripetal force is proportional to the square of the angular velocity times the radius, the ball in the cup closer to the axis of rotation requires a higher angular velocity in order to remain in the cup.

Balls in Rotating Cups