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Grade 11Mechanics

A bicycle wheel is rolling on a level surface. At any given instant in time the wheel.
(A) is undergoing pure rotational motion.
(B) is undergoing pure translational motion.
(C) is undergoing both translational and rotational motion.
(D) is undergoing motion that can be described by the answers (A) or (C).

Profile image of Simran Bhatia
11 Years agoGrade 11
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1 Answer

Profile image of Aditi Chauhan
11 Years ago
The correct option is: (C) is undergoing both translational and rotational motion.
When the bicycle wheel is rolling on a level surface, there is both translational and rotational motion. The forward motion of the bicycle accounts for the translational motion of the bicycle while the rotation of wheels accounts for the rotational motion involved.
One can also perceive the translational motion of bicycle in linear velocity of the axis of rotation of wheels, which is in the direction of motion of bicycle.
Therefore (C) is the correct option, and the rest are ruled out.