Exam-style question
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A graph of angular velocity versus time for a rotating object shows a curve that increases and then levels off. Interpret this graph in terms of the object's angular acceleration.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The graph indicates that the angular velocity increases at first, suggesting positive angular acceleration, but then levels off, indicating that the angular acceleration decreases to zero.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence of the curve shows that the angular velocity is initially increasing, which implies that there is a net torque causing angular acceleration. As the graph levels off, it indicates that the object reaches a maximum angular velocity and that the angular acceleration has decreased to zero.
Thus, we conclude that the object has stopped accelerating and is now moving at a constant angular velocity.
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