USAPhO 2021 Problem B1

A disk of uniform mass density, mass M, and radius R sits at rest on a frictionless floor. The disk is attached to the floor by a frictionless pivot at its center, which keeps the center of the disk in place, but allows the disk to rotate freely. An ant of mass m \ll M is initially standing on the edge of the disk; you may give your answers to leading order in m / M.

a. The ant walks an angular displacement \theta along the edge of the disk. Then it walks radially inward by a distance h \ll R, tangentially through an angular displacement -\theta, then back to its starting point on the disk. Assume the ant walks with constant speed v.

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Through what net angle does the disk rotate throughout this process, to leading order in h / R ?

b. Now suppose the ant walks with speed v along a circle of radius r, tangent to its starting point.

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Through what net angle does the disk rotate?