Lecture 11 (Physics)

A primitive yo-yo (string wound around a solid cylinder) is released from rest and falls a height h. Compared to the same cylinder dropped without the string, its center of mass accelerates:

1. A.Faster, since the unwinding string pulls the cylinder downward as it falls.
2. B.Slower, since some energy goes into rotation and tension pulls upward.
3. C.At the same rate, since the string is massless in this idealized problem.
4. D.Faster at first, then slower once the rotation begins to spin up the cylinder.