Question

A meter stick is suspended vertically at a pivot point 27 cm from the top end. It is rotated on the pivot until it is horizontal and then released from rest. What will be its maximum angular velocity (in radians/second)?

Answer 1

potential energy at horizontal = m g h = m (9.81)(.50-.27) = 2.26 m Joules

kinetic energy at vertical = (1/2)I omega^2

I = m (1/12)(1^2) + m (.23)^2
= m (.136)
so
I omega^2 = .136 m omega^2
omega^2 = 2.26/.136
omega = 4.08 radians/second