A circular disk of moment of inertia is rotating in a horizontal plane, about its symmetry axis, with a constant angular speed . Another disk of moment of inertia is dropped coaxially onto the rotating disk. Initially the second disk has zero angular speed. Eventually both the disks rotate with a constant angular speed . The energy lost by the initially rotating disc to friction is:
Let the initial angular momentum of the system be and the final angular momentum be . Since there is no external torque on the system, angular momentum is conserved . By conservation of angular momentum:
Initial kinetic energy of the system :
Final kinetic energy of the system:
Energy lost due to friction is the difference between initial and final kinetic energy:
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