\includegraphics{figure_3}
A uniform disc, of radius \(a\) and mass \(2M\), is attached to a thin uniform rod \(AB\) of length \(6a\) and mass \(M\). The rod lies along a diameter of the disc, so that the centre of the disc is a distance \(x\) from \(A\) (see diagram).
- Find the moment of inertia of the object, consisting of disc and rod, about a fixed horizontal axis \(l\) through \(A\) and perpendicular to the plane of the disc. [4]
The object is free to rotate about the axis \(l\). The object is held with \(AB\) horizontal and is released from rest. When \(AB\) makes an angle \(\theta\) with the vertical, where \(\cos \theta = \frac{3}{5}\), the angular speed of the object is \(\sqrt{\left(\frac{2g}{5a}\right)}\).
- Find the possible values of \(x\). [5]