MCQEasyJEE 2025Rolling Motion & Rotational Kinematics

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A solid sphere of mass mm and radius rr is allowed to roll without slipping from the highest point of an inclined plane of length LL and makes an angle of 3030^\circ with the horizontal. The speed of the particle at the bottom of the plane is v1v_1. If the angle of inclination is increased to 4545^\circ while keeping LL constant, the new speed of the sphere at the bottom of the plane is v2v_2. The ratio of v12:v22v_1^2 : v_2^2 is:

  • A

    1:21 : \sqrt{2}

  • B

    1:31 : 3

  • C

    1:21 : 2

  • D

    1:31 : \sqrt{3}

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A solid sphere rolls without slipping down an incline of length LL. In the first case, the incline angle is 3030^\circ and the speed at the bottom is v1v_1. In the second case, the incline angle is 4545^\circ and the speed at the bottom is v2v_2.

Find: The ratio v12:v22v_1^2 : v_2^2.

For a solid sphere rolling without slipping, the speed at the bottom is obtained from conservation of energy:

mgh=12mv2+12Iω2mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2

For a solid sphere,

I=25mr2,ω=vrI = \frac{2}{5}mr^2, \qquad \omega = \frac{v}{r}

Substituting,

mgh=12mv2+12(25mr2)v2r2mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{2}{5}mr^2\right)\frac{v^2}{r^2} mgh=12mv2+15mv2=710mv2mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{5}mv^2 = \frac{7}{10}mv^2

Hence,

v2=107ghv^2 = \frac{10}{7}gh

Now the vertical height is

h=Lsinθh = L\sin\theta

So,

v2=107gLsinθv^2 = \frac{10}{7}gL\sin\theta

For θ=30\theta = 30^\circ,

v12=107gLsin30=107gL12=5gL7v_1^2 = \frac{10}{7}gL\sin 30^\circ = \frac{10}{7}gL \cdot \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5gL}{7}

For θ=45\theta = 45^\circ,

v22=107gLsin45=107gL22=52gL7v_2^2 = \frac{10}{7}gL\sin 45^\circ = \frac{10}{7}gL \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} = \frac{5\sqrt{2}gL}{7}

Therefore,

v12:v22=5gL7:52gL7=1:2v_1^2 : v_2^2 = \frac{5gL}{7} : \frac{5\sqrt{2}gL}{7} = 1 : \sqrt{2}

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Angle Dependence Shortcut

Given: The sphere rolls without slipping down inclines of the same length LL, with angles 3030^\circ and 4545^\circ.

Find: The ratio v12:v22v_1^2 : v_2^2.

Since for a given rolling body,

v2hv^2 \propto h

and

h=Lsinθh = L\sin\theta

with LL constant, we get

v2sinθv^2 \propto \sin\theta

Thus,

v12:v22=sin30:sin45=12:22=1:2v_1^2 : v_2^2 = \sin 30^\circ : \sin 45^\circ = \frac{1}{2} : \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} = 1 : \sqrt{2}

This works because the rotational factor is the same in both cases and cancels in the ratio. Therefore, the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Using vsinθv \propto \sin\theta instead of v2sinθv^2 \propto \sin\theta. The energy equation gives speed squared proportional to height. Compare v12v_1^2 and v22v_2^2 directly, not v1v_1 and v2v_2.

  • Ignoring rotational kinetic energy and using only translational kinetic energy. For rolling without slipping, both translational and rotational parts are present. Use mgh=12mv2+12Iω2mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 + \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2.

  • Taking the height as LcosθL\cos\theta instead of LsinθL\sin\theta. The vertical drop from an incline of length LL at angle θ\theta is h=Lsinθh = L\sin\theta.

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