Centrifugal force on off-centered cylinders rolling down a curve
Let's say we have a cylinder of radius r with non-uniform density, resulting in a center of mass shifted away from center of geometry. Let's assume that this center of mass mid-way between center and circumference. So, r_cm = r/2.
Now, let's say this cylinder is rolling down on a curved path of radius R + r. Assume no slip condition.
What is the centripetal force on this cylinder? Does it have "two centripetal forces", from which we find a resultant?
I posed this question for discussion, not as a problem. (Answer is just 1.)
The answer is 1.
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Spin motion of the cylinder results in a centripetal acceleration since the C.M. is different from the geometric center. The orbital motion also gives rise to a centripetal acceleration. These two vectors do not have the same direction in general. The resultant centripetal acceleration is a vector sum of these two.