1. Which will roll faster down an inclined plane, a can of water or a can of ice?
A) A can of water.
B) Both the same.
C) A can of ice.
The can of water will roll faster down an inclined plane compared to a can of ice.
To determine which can, the can of water or the can of ice, will roll faster down an inclined plane, we need to consider the factors that affect the speed of rolling objects.
One such factor is the mass of the objects. The can of water and the can of ice have the same mass, assuming they have the same volume, as the mass of water and ice remains constant. This means that the mass will not influence the speed of rolling.
Another critical factor is the presence of friction between the can and the inclined plane. Assuming that the can's surfaces are smooth and there is negligible friction, the presence of water or ice inside the can should not affect the speed of rolling.
However, there is one significant distinction between the can of water and the can of ice: their centers of mass. The center of mass is the point within an object where the mass is evenly distributed. In the case of the can of water, the water is in liquid form, and its center of mass remains close to the center of the can. But in the can of ice, the center of mass is likely to be closer to the bottom of the can, where the ice accumulated.
When a cylindrical object with a higher center of mass rolls down an inclined plane, it experiences a torque, which tends to rotate the object and slow it down. Therefore, the can of ice, having a higher center of mass than the can of water, is more likely to roll slower.
Based on the factors discussed, the answer is A) A can of water is likely to roll faster down an inclined plane compared to a can of ice.