2007-09-17 13:15:10 · 4 answers · asked by chichu 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
i forgot to add that both are completely closed on all sides.
2007-09-17 13:32:56 · update #1
What difference are you looking for? If both are made of the same material and have the same density then the hollow one would be bigger.
2007-09-17 14:00:24 · answer #1 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roll the cylinders down a shallow incline and time them. The hollow cylinder will be slower. This is because of the rotational inertia of the cylinder. The further out the mass is from the center, the harder it is to accelerate from a standing start. Even though they have the same mass, they will have different rotational inertia's. This is assuming that the dimensions of the cylinders are the same (you did not specify that).
2007-09-17 21:10:06 · answer #2 · answered by Patrick M 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Roll the cylinders down an inclined plane. The one that rolls faster has relatively more mass near its center and is most likely to be the solid one.
This is because of a property of rotating objects called the moment of inertia. One could perform analysis on the objects to determine what they might be like on the inside. This would involve weighing the objects and timing how long it takes for them to roll down the plane, then applying that information to various equations.
2007-09-17 21:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by acforni 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn it on one end and look through it. If you can see through it, you have found the hollow one.
2007-09-17 20:29:10 · answer #4 · answered by jkhfvc6556 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋