(Solution) - A homogeneous slab of thickness a is placed atop a fixed -(2025 Original AI-Free Solution)

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A homogeneous slab of thickness a is placed atop a fixed cylinder of radius R whose axis is horizontal. Show that the condition for stable equilibrium of the slab, assuming no slipping, is R > a/2. What is the frequency of small oscillations? Sketch the potential energy U as a function of the angular displacement ?. Show that there is a minimum at ? = 0 for R > a/2 but not for R < a/2.