8. A pendulum consists of a uniform rod \(P Q\), of mass \(3 m\) and length \(2 a\), which is rigidly fixed at its end \(Q\) to the centre of a uniform circular disc of mass \(m\) and radius \(a\). The rod is perpendicular to the plane of the disc. The pendulum is free to rotate about a fixed smooth horizontal axis \(L\) which passes through the end \(P\) of the rod and is perpendicular to the rod.
- Show that the moment of inertia of the pendulum about \(L\) is \(\frac { 33 } { 4 } m a ^ { 2 }\).
The pendulum is released from rest in the position where \(P Q\) makes an angle \(\alpha\) with the downward vertical. At time \(t , P Q\) makes an angle \(\theta\) with the downward vertical.
- Show that the angular speed, \(\dot { \theta }\), of the pendulum satisfies
$$\dot { \theta } ^ { 2 } = \frac { 40 g ( \cos \theta - \cos \alpha ) } { 33 a }$$
- Hence, or otherwise, find the angular acceleration of the pendulum.
Given that \(\alpha = \frac { \pi } { 20 }\) and that \(P Q\) has length \(\frac { 8 } { 33 } \mathrm {~m}\),
- find, to 3 significant figures, an approximate value for the angular speed of the pendulum 0.2 s after it has been released from rest.