Introduction to Classical Mechanics · Problem 9.43

Angular momentum, Part II (General L) — Morin

Physics — Mechanics · rotating-sheet

Problem

A uniform flat rectangular sheet of mass

m

and side lengths

a

and

b

rotates with angular speed

\omega

around a diagonal. What torque is required? Given a fixed area

A

, what should the rectangle look like if you want the required torque to be as large as possible? What is the upper bound on the torque?