Discussion Forum

A roller is made by joining together two corners at their vertices O. It is kept on two rails AB and CD which are placed asymmetrically (see the figure), with its axis perpendicular to CD and its centre O at the centre of the line joining AB and CD (see the figure). It is given a light push so that it starts rolling with its centre O moving parallel to CD  in the direction shown. As it moves, the roller will tend to 

Answer:

Explanation:

At distance x, from O,v= ω R

distance less than x_0,v > ω R

 Initially, there is pure rolling at both the contacts  As the cone moves forward slipping at AB will start in the forward direction, as the radius  at left contact decreases.

               Thus, the cone will start turning towards the left. As it moves further slipping at CD will start in the backward direction which will also turn the cone towards left.