The 6.275 kg sledge hammer shown on the right has a small hole drilled at point "P" and a metal rod is inserted to act as a low-friction pivot. The distance from "P" to the center of mass of the hammer is 75.5 cm and the distance from "P" to the tip of the hammer "A" is 84.5 cm.
a. When the hammer is displaced slightly and allowed to swing from the pivot, its period of oscillation is 1.80 seconds, what is the moment of inertia of the hammer as it pivots about "P" as a physical pendulum ? [Ans. 3.81 kg-m^2]
b. The hammer head is now displaced so that the center of the handle makes an angle of 20.0o with the vertical and then gently released. How fast is the tip of the hammer (point A) moving at the bottom of it's swing? hint: use conservation of mechanical energy to find w at the bottom of the swing. [Ans. 1.02 m/s]