Re: Rolling AP Problem

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca>]

> Wow, I was just about to say the same thing.  After all, static friction
> always acts through a fixed point and therefor does no NET work.  All it
> does is couple the rotational motion to the linear motion of the object.

Well, static friction *per se* does no work, but forces which act
through static friction (including this one) sure can. How do you
suppose an automobile accelerates? The pavement does work on the
car though the coupling by static friction.

(Oops, I just turned John's crank.)

Leigh