Calculating Torque and Rotational Kinetic Energy: Homework Help

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating torque and rotational kinetic energy for a wheel with applied forces and a given mass and radius of gyration. The subject area includes concepts from rotational dynamics and mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate torque for various forces applied to a wheel and questions how to approach cases where the force is not perpendicular. They also seek confirmation on their calculations for the moment of inertia and rotational kinetic energy.
  • Some participants question the definition of moment of inertia for a disk and suggest exploring the relationship between mass, moment of inertia, and radius of gyration.
  • Others provide equations related to rotational kinetic energy and discuss the need to find components of forces when calculating torque.

Discussion Status

Participants have provided some guidance on calculating torque and moment of inertia. There is acknowledgment of correct calculations for certain parts, but questions remain regarding the approach for non-perpendicular forces and the calculation of rotational kinetic energy. Multiple interpretations and methods are being explored without explicit consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There is also a mention of a figure that is not visible in the text, which may affect the understanding of the torque problem.

vitaly
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I need some help with these two problems:

1. A wheel of radius 30 cm has forces applied to it as shown in the figure below. Find the torque produced by the force of (a) 4 N (b) 9 N (c) 7 N (d) 6 N. See attachment for figure.
(a) = _____1.2 N*m_____ counterclockwise?
(b) = _____2.7 N*m_____ clockwise?
(c) = __________ N*m
(d) = __________ N*m clockwise
For a, I did: (4N)(.3 M ) = 1.2 N*m
for b, (9 N)(.3 M) = 2.7 N*m
for c, I don't know how to solve it if hte force isn't perpendicular.
for d, same as c. Does anybody know how to solve for c and d, and does anybody know if a and b are correct?

2. A wheel, of mass 6 Kg and radius of gyration 40 cm, is rotating at 300 rpm. Find its momentum of inertia and its rotational KE.
I got:
I = mr^2 = (6 Kg)(0.4 m)^2 = 0.96 kg*m^2. Is that right?
And I'm not sure how to find the rotational kinetic energy. Is there an equation I need?

All help is appreciated. thank you
 

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For the second,what is the moment of inertia of a disk...?

Daniel.
 
ke

rotational KE is given by 1/2* I * (w^2)
where I is moment of inertia and w is the angular velocity...
wiz
 
Radius of Gyration does not equal the radius of the disk. You will have to find an equation relating mass, Moment of Intertia, and Radius of Gyration. Hint: It involves a division sign and a square root. From there, it is easy to find your Moment of Interia.

To find the rotational interia, it is basically the same equation for linear, but with circular definitions in. (i.e. rad/s instead of m/s, angular velocity instead of linear velocity)
 
vitaly said:
1. A wheel of radius 30 cm has forces applied to it as shown in the figure below. Find the torque produced by the force of (a) 4 N (b) 9 N (c) 7 N (d) 6 N. See attachment for figure.
(a) = _____1.2 N*m_____ counterclockwise?
(b) = _____2.7 N*m_____ clockwise?
(c) = __________ N*m
(d) = __________ N*m clockwise
For a, I did: (4N)(.3 M ) = 1.2 N*m
for b, (9 N)(.3 M) = 2.7 N*m
Good.
for c, I don't know how to solve it if hte force isn't perpendicular.
for d, same as c. Does anybody know how to solve for c and d, and does anybody know if a and b are correct?
When the force is not perpendicular to the radius, find the component of the force perpendicular to the radius. (Hint: [itex]F sin\theta[/itex], where [itex]\theta[/itex] is the angle that the force makes with the radius.)

a and b are correct.


2. A wheel, of mass 6 Kg and radius of gyration 40 cm, is rotating at 300 rpm. Find its momentum of inertia and its rotational KE.
I got:
I = mr^2 = (6 Kg)(0.4 m)^2 = 0.96 kg*m^2. Is that right?
This is correct.
And I'm not sure how to find the rotational kinetic energy. Is there an equation I need?
[tex]{KE}_{rot} = 1/2 I \omega^2[/tex]
where [itex]\omega[/itex] is the angular speed (measured in radians/sec).
 

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