Circular acceleration and Integration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the motion of a bead on a circular wire, focusing on the effects of kinetic friction and the integration of acceleration to find the bead's speed over time. The problem is situated within the context of classical mechanics and involves concepts of circular motion and differential equations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between acceleration and velocity, questioning the integration process and the correct formulation of the differential equation. There are discussions about the proper boundaries for integration and the interpretation of variables involved.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the mathematical formulation of the problem, with some offering clarifications on the integration steps and the interpretation of terms. There is a recognition of the need to express velocity in terms of time, and while some confusion remains regarding the correct expressions, the dialogue is constructive and focused on resolving misunderstandings.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the importance of initial conditions and the role of friction in the motion of the bead. There are references to assumptions about the system's setup, such as the initial speed and the nature of the forces acting on the bead.

jungleismassiv
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Consider a bead of mass m that is free to move on a thin, circular wire of
radius r. The bead is given an initial speed v0, and there is a coefficient of
kinetic friction [tex]F_k[/tex]. The experiment is performed in a spacecraft drifting inspace. Find the speed of the bead at any subsequent time t.

Ok so you need to find the velocity of the object.

Well the acceleration would be: [tex]a = -F_k v^2 / r[/tex]

To find velocity, you would have to integrate that...

[tex]dv/dt = \int -F_k v^2 / r[/tex]

and that is...

[tex]v^-2 F_k r^-1[/tex]

now what do i do?
 
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I'm not sure what you mean by [tex]v^-2 F_k r^-1[/tex]. Separate the equation, integrate both sides and put in the boundary condition you've been given. Also, the RHS of the line before makes no sense, cos you're not integrating wrt any variable.
 
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You forgot that [tex]a[/tex] and [tex]\frac{dv}{dt}[/tex] are the same thing.

Let's denote by [tex]\mu[/tex] the coefficient of friction (because F reminds us of force) :smile:

Then you have a differential equation that you can solve for v in terms of t:

[tex]\frac{dv}{dt} = -\mu \frac{v^2}{r}[/tex]

The 'v' side is to be integrated from the initial velocity [tex]v_0[/tex] to [tex]v[/tex] at any instance of time.
 
ramollari said:
The 'v' side is to be integrated from the initial velocity [tex]v_0[/tex] to [tex]v[/tex] at any instance of time.
What is the v side? Do you mean dV? If so, how is that calculated?
 
jungleismassiv said:
What is the v side? Do you mean dV? If so, how is that calculated?

dv is a differential if you remember it from calculus :wink: .

So take all 'v's to the left hand side and all 't's to the right hand side, and then integrate over the same limits:

[tex]\frac{dv}{v^2} = -\frac{\mu}{r}dt[/tex]

[tex]\int_{v_0}^{v} \frac{1}{v^2} dv = -\frac{\mu}{r} \int_{t_0}^{t} dt = -\frac{\mu}{r}t[/tex]

[tex]-\frac{1}{v} - (-\frac{1}{v_0}) = -\frac{\mu}{r}t[/tex]

Here you solve for v in terms of [tex]v_0[/tex] and t.
 
ramollari said:
dv is a differential if you remember it from calculus :wink: .

So take all 'v's to the left hand side and all 't's to the right hand side, and then integrate over the same limits:

[tex]\frac{dv}{v^2} = -\frac{\mu}{r}dt[/tex]

[tex]\int_{v_0}^{v} \frac{1}{v^2} dv = -\frac{\mu}{r} \int_{t_0}^{t} dt = -\frac{\mu}{r}t[/tex]

[tex]-\frac{1}{v} - (-\frac{1}{v_0}) = -\frac{\mu}{r}t[/tex]

Here you solve for v in terms of [tex]v_0[/tex] and t.
I assume you find t and then find v0?

So, for t,

[tex]t = \mu r / v+ v_0 ?[/tex]
 
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From the question it is clear that it is asked v in terms of t, right? So time is given and we don't need to derive it! It is asked v(t), where constant [tex]v_0[/tex] comes in.

Take it conceptually. You give the bead an initial velocity and it moves with friction around the circle until it stops due to the deceleration. We got:

[tex]\frac{1}{v} = \frac{1}{v_0} + \frac{\mu}{r}t[/tex]

You can see that with the passage of time [tex]\frac{1}{v}[/tex] increases, so v decreases. Also you can notice that the units agree (m/s).
Hope that this makes it quite clear.
 
ramollari said:
From the question it is clear that it is asked v in terms of t, right? So time is given and we don't need to derive it! It is asked v(t), where constant [tex]v_0[/tex] comes in.

Take it conceptually. You give the bead an initial velocity and it moves with friction around the circle until it stops due to the deceleration. We got:

[tex]\frac{1}{v} = \frac{1}{v_0} + \frac{\mu}{r}t[/tex]

You can see that with the passage of time [tex]\frac{1}{v}[/tex] increases, so v decreases. Also you can notice that the units agree (m/s).
Hope that this makes it quite clear.
So [tex]v(t) = v_0 + r / \mu t[/tex]? Thanks for the help :smile:
 
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jungleismassiv said:
So [tex]v(t) = v_0 + r / \mu t[/tex]? Thanks for the help :smile:

No, it is wrong because there's addition in the middle.

Remember this:

[tex]\frac{1}{\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b}}[/tex] is not the same as [tex]a + b[/tex]
 
  • #10
ramollari said:
No, it is wrong because there's addition in the middle.

Remember this:

[tex]\frac{1}{\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b}}[/tex] is not the same as [tex]a + b[/tex]
This is frustrating. More so for you probably! Can you please walk through it?
 
  • #11
jungleismassiv said:
This is frustrating. More so for you probably! Can you please walk through it?

The identity you claim simply doesn't hold! You are not dealing with multiplication

[tex]\frac{1}{\frac{1}{a} \frac{1}{b}}[/tex],

but with addition

[tex]\frac{1}{\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b}}[/tex]

If it were otherwise we would for example have written the formula for lenses as f = v + u, and not as,

[tex]\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{v} + \frac{1}{u}[/tex].
 
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  • #12
ahhh. Got it :)

Cheers
 

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