Q. When a ceiling fan is switched off, its angular velocity falls to half while it makes 36 rotations. How many rotations will it make before coming to rest?

A) 24
B) 36
C) 18
D) 12
Explanation

(d) From third equation of angular motion,
$\omega^{2} = \omega_{0}^{2} = 2\alpha\ \ (Here,\omega = \frac{\omega_{0}}{2},\theta = 36 \times 2\pi)$
$\therefore$ $\left( \frac{\omega_{0}}{2} \right)^{2} = \omega_{0}^{2} - 2\alpha \times 36 \times 2\pi$
or $4 \times 36\pi\alpha = \omega_{0}^{2} - \frac{\omega_{0}^{2}}{4}$
or $4 \times 36\pi\alpha = \frac{3\omega_{0}^{2}}{4}$
or $\alpha = \frac{\omega_{0}^{2}}{16 \times 12\pi}$ …(i)
According to question again applying the third equation of angular motion
$\omega^{2} = \omega_{0}^{2} - 2\alpha\theta\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (Here,\ \omega = 0)$
$\therefore$ $0 = \left( \frac{\omega_{0}}{2} \right)^{2} - 2 \times \frac{\omega_{0}^{2}.\theta}{16 \times 12\pi}$
or $\theta = 24\pi\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ or\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \theta = 12 \times 2\pi$
But $2\pi = 1$ cycle
So, $\theta = 12\ cycle$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.