Question

Steel cylinders are made so that each one has a large and small hole through the middle. In the drawing six cylinders have been stacked on top of each other. To stop the cylinders from rolling on the smooth floor they are wedged by heavy blocks at each side of bottom row. If the heavy blocks are removed what would be the position of the cylinder when they stopped rolling?

• A. A
• B. B
• C. C
• D. D

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To determine the final position of the steel cylinders after removing the supporting heavy blocks, we need to consider the physical mechanics involved with stacked cylinders. The key factors include:

• Gravity
• Shape of the cylinders
• Contact points and friction

When the heavy blocks are removed, gravity will cause the cylinders to roll due to their round shape. The rolling motion will depend on:

• Initial alignment and surface area, which results in less friction.
• Downward gravitational pull is unopposed by the blocks, causing them to seek an equilibrium position.

Given these conditions, the cylinders will tend to roll and settle in a stacked triangular lattice, due to gravitational bottom alignment explained as follows:

1. The bottom row is supported by a flat surface, creating a stable base.
2. Each subsequent row will roll downwards into an equilibrium position, slotting into the gaps left by the previous row, forming a triangular structure.
3. The constraint ensuring stability requires that the columns form a sort of 'pyramid', which is depicted by option C.

The correct positioning is dictated by how natural physical principles guide stacked cylinders post-release, hence the answer is C.