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Two buckets connected by a rigid axle which pivots on frictionless bearings spin

ID: 1514758 • Letter: T

Question

Two buckets connected by a rigid axle which pivots on frictionless bearings spin around in a horizontal circle as shown. Suddenly, it starts to rain and the buckets begin to fill with rainwater. As a result, A. The buckets speed up because the potential energy of the rain in transformed into kinetic energy. B. The buckets continue to rotate al constant angular velocity because the rain is falling vertically while the buckets move in a horizontal plane. C. The buckets slow down because the angular momentum of the bucket + rain system is conserved. D). The buckets continue to rotate at a constant angular velocity because the total mechanical energy of the bucket + rain system is conserved. E. None of the above.

Explanation / Answer

Option C