Physics Challenge for

Teachers and Students

Solution to October 2005 Challenge

◗ The Roll Call The position vector of the center of the

A yo-yo is pulled by its string along a horizontal surface yo-yo, taking the origin to be the pivot point,
without slipping. The horizontal velocity of the end of the
string remains equal to v. A bar is pivoted as shown and
can be resolved into a horizontal component x
remains supported by the yo-yo. Find the angular speed of and a vertical component y = R. The velocity of
the bar ω as a function of angle θ. The outer and the inner the center with respect to the ground is
radii of the yo-yo are R and r, respectively.
v[R/(R + r)] as found above, and this is the
horizontal velocity of the center, dx/dt. (The
center doesn’t move vertically so dy/d t = 0.)
v From the figure, we also find the relationship
⎛θ ⎞ ⎛ R ⎞
tan ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ .
␪ ⎝2⎠ ⎝ x ⎠
Taking the derivative with respect to time, we
Solution: For the yo-yo not to slip, the velocity find:
of the point of contact between the yo-yo and
⎛θ ⎞ ⎛ω ⎞ R dx R ⎛ R ⎞⎟
the ground must be zero. If the yo-yo rolls with sec 2 ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ = − 2 =− ⎜v
2 ⎜ ⎟
angular velocity ωy, the top of the yo-yo must ⎝2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ x dt ⎛ ⎞⎟ ⎜⎝ R + r ⎟⎠
⎜⎜ ⎟
have a velocity ωy(2R), the center of the yo-yo ⎜⎜ R ⎟⎟
⎜⎜ ⎛ ⎞⎟⎟⎟
has velocity ωy(R). ⎜⎜ tan ⎜ θ ⎟⎟⎟⎟
Any point above a distance y from the center ⎜⎝ ⎜⎝ 2 ⎟⎠⎟⎠
of the yo-yo has velocity ωy(R + y). In particular, ⎛θ ⎞ ⎛ω ⎞ ⎛ θ ⎞⎛ v ⎞⎟
sec 2 ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ = − tan 2 ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟⎜⎜⎜ ⎟ .
we are interested in the point where the string is ⎝2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎝ R + r ⎟⎠
unwinding. Since this point is a distance r above
the center, its velocity is v = ωy(R + r). The
velocity at the center of the yo-yo, in terms of Solving for ω, the angular speed of the bar is:
the velocity of the string, is therefore
⎛ v ⎞⎟ ⎛ R ⎞⎟
ω y R = ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ R = v ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟.
⎝R +r ⎠ ⎝ R + r ⎟⎠
Consider the position vector of the center of Since the bar rotates counterclockwise, the
the yo-yo, in the following figure. angular speed is negative.

(Contributed by Manuel Calderón de la Barca

Sánchez, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN)
R v

␪ R

THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 43, 2005 67

Editor's Note: An interesting exploration of the
constraints in the situation presented in the
problem was contributed by another reader
who also solved the problem correctly as stated:
The preceding result assumes that the bar is
constrained to remain in contact with the spool.
(Perhaps the yo-yo is made of iron and the bar
is magnetic, for instance.) If instead the bar is
merely resting against the spool without such a
constraint, then there is a maximum angle θmax
which the bar’s initial angle must not exceed if
the spool is to avoid rolling away and leaving
the bar behind. We can calculate this maximum
angle as follows. Newton’s second law in
rotational form for the bar about O (choosing
the clockwise direction as positive) is
L L 1
Mg cosθ − N = ML2α (1)
2 2 3
if M and L are the mass and length of the bar
respectively, where N is the normal force that
the spool exerts on the rod. At the critical
angle, the spool is just pulling away from the
rod so that
3g
N = 0 ⇒ αmax = cos θmax .
2L
But
2
dω υ d θ ⎛⎜ υ ⎞⎟
α= = sin θ =⎜ ⎟ sin θ (1 − cos θ) .
dt R +r dt ⎜⎝ R + r ⎟⎠
Equating this result at the maximum angle to
Eq. (2) now results in
2
3 g ⎛⎜ R + r ⎞⎟
tan θmax (1 − cos θmax ) = ⎜⎜⎝ ⎟⎟ .
2L υ ⎠
The left-hand side varies from 0 to ∞ as θmax
varies from 0 to 90o, and hence there is a
definite solution for θmax for any values of the
constants on the right-hand side. It can be
found graphically or numerically.
Furthermore, there is a minimum angle
beyond which the rod will no longer make
contact with the spool. As we see in the figure,
this minimum angle is given by
⎛R ⎞
θmin = 2 tan−1 ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ (5)
⎝L⎠
so that we require L > R. In fact, L/R must be
large enough to ensure that θmax > θmin.
(Contributed by Carl E. Mungan, U.S. Naval
Academy, Annapolis, MD)
Many other readers also sent us the correct
solutions. We would like to recognize the fol-
lowing contributors:
Sanjeet Singh Adarsh (Indian Institute of Tech-
nology, Bombay, India)
Phil Cahill (Lockheed Martin Corp., Rosemont,
PA)
Martin Crawford (Jefferson State Community
College, Birmingham, AL)
Don Easton (Lacombe, Alberta, Canada)
Michael C. Faleski (Delta College, Midland,
MI)
(2)
Fernando Ferreira (Universidade da Beira Inte-
rior, Covilhã, Portugal)
Robert L. Gramer Jr. (Lake City Community
College, Lake City, FL)
Bayani I. Ramirez (San Jacinto College South,
(3) Houston, TX)
John Spokas (Benedictine University, Lisle, IL)
H. Scott Wiley (Science Academy of South
Texas, Weslaco, TX)
(4)
Many thanks to all contributors and we hope
to hear from you in the future!
Boris Korsunsky
Column Editor
korsunbo@post.harvard.edu

68 THE PHYSICS TEACHER ◆ Vol. 44, January 2006