Calculating Work Done by Friction on Rotating Cylinder

In summary, the work done by friction on a rolling cylinder with its circular end pressed against the ground can be calculated by using the formula W = (2/3) * mu * M * g * R * theta, where mu is the coefficient of static friction, M is the total mass of the cylinder, g is the acceleration due to gravity, R is the radius of the contact surface, and theta is the angular displacement. This formula is derived by considering the torque and angular acceleration of the cylinder and integrating over all points on the contact surface.
  • #1
PPMC
24
0
If a cylinder is rotating with the circular end pressed against the ground, how can the work done by friction be calculated?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #3
____
. | |
. | |
. | |
_|_|_

I mean the cylinder is rotating this way. With the force going downward and the circular bottom face in contact with the ground. Heat will be produced and work will have to be done to turn the cylinder so there must be a force of friction.

Drawing is so difficult
 
  • #4
[tex]M=\frac{2}{3} \mu_s PR[/tex]

[tex]\mu_s[/tex] -coeff. static friction
R-Radius
P-Axial load
 
  • #5
If the system is steady state, then the work would be:

[tex]w = \tau \theta[/tex]

This would imply that you can measure the torque and the angular displacement.
 
  • #6
Essentially, you perform an integration.

Consider an infinitisemal slice of the cylinder's bottom with area [tex]da=rdrd\theta[/tex]

where r is its radial position and theta its angular position.

Now, let the local normal force be of magnitude dN, then, with [itex]\mu[/itex] being the kinetic friction of coefficient, we have that the local frictional force is:
[tex]d\vec{F}=-\mu{dN}\vec{i}_{\theta}[/tex]
where [itex]\vec{i}_{\theta}[/itex] is the local direction vector in the direction of motion.

Now, the local torque contribution is given by:
[tex]d\vec{\tau}=\vec{r}\times{d}\vec{\vec{F}}=-rdN\vec{i}_{r}\times\vec{i}_{\theta}=-\mu{r}dN\vec{k}[/tex], where k is the direction vector upwards.

Now, let the normal force per unit area be some constant n, we have that:
[tex]d\vec{\tau}=-\mu{n}{r}^{2}drd\theta\vec{k}[/tex]

The total torque is therefore:
[tex]\vec\tau=\int_{0}^{2\pi}\int_{0}^{R}d\vec{\tau}=-\frac{2\pi{n}\mu{R}^{3}}{3}\vec{k}=-\frac{2}{3}\mu{R}{n}A\vec{k}=-\frac{2}{3}\mu{R}N\vec{k}[/tex]
where R is the cylinder's radius, N the net normal force on the cylinders bottom.

Assuming a moment of inertia I, we therefore have that the angular acceleration is given by:
[tex]\dot{\omega}=-\frac{2\mu{R}{N}}{3I}[/tex]

This is then the constant rate by which the angular velocity [itex]\omega[/itex] decreases.

Setting N=k*mg, and I=s*mR^{2} yields:
[tex]\dot{\omega}=-\frac{k}{s}\frac{2g\mu}{R}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
  • #7
Thanks but unfortunately it appears that to solve for work by this method will require a lot of research into angular stuff so I might have to change my experimental method.
 
  • #8
Cyrus said:
[tex]M=\frac{2}{3} \mu_s PR[/tex]

[tex]\mu_s[/tex] -coeff. static friction
R-Radius
P-Axial load

kinetic, kinetic, kinetic!
 
  • #9
Dear god! Noooooooooooooooo (slow motion jumping leap with arms extended towards the keyboard to edit post)
 
  • #10
hey, i was doing this the other day, but I used a simpler method. I want to show it,but since I am a new user, i am not sure how to use the symbols. I will try anyway.

let's start this way, think of a small point on the contacting surface of the cylinder.
W=Fx, where work done W on the point is the product of F is the friction force and x is the distance travelled.

And we all know F=[tex]\mu[/tex][tex]\Delta[/tex]mg, where [tex]\Delta[/tex]m is the supported mass on the point.

x=r[tex]\theta[/tex], where r the distance from the point to the rotating axis and [tex]\theta[/tex] is the angular displacement.

then, W=[tex]\mu\Delta[/tex]mgr[tex]\theta[/tex]
and, W=[tex]\mu[/tex]A[tex]\rho[/tex]gr[tex]\theta[/tex], where [tex]\rho[/tex] is the area density, and A is area of the point, but now we will change it to the area sum of all the points with the same distance as the original point we were using. (which is a circle).

now, the circle has an area of A= 2[tex]\Pi[/tex]r [tex]\Delta[/tex]r,
[tex]\rho[/tex]= M/([tex]\Pi[/tex][R]^{}[/2]), where M is the total mass of the cylinder and R is the radius of the contact surface.

Putting back into the formula, W=Mrg[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex](2[tex]\Pi[/tex]r[tex]\Delta[/tex]r)/([tex]\Pi[/tex][R]^{}[/2])
It is simplified to W=Mg[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex][r]^{}[/2][tex]\Delta[/tex]r/([R]^{}[/2])

Finally, we can use integration to sum it from 0 to R.
W=Mg[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex]/([R]^{}[/2])[tex]\int[/tex][r]^{}[/2][tex]\Delta[/tex]r

and there's my answer: W= [2]\overline{}[/3][tex]\mu[/tex]MgR[tex]\theta[/tex]
 
  • #11
Let me try this again. This time I think I can do it

let's start this way, think of a small point on the contacting surface of the cylinder.
W=Fx, where work done W on the point is the product of F is the friction force and x is the distance travelled.

And we all know F=[tex]\mu[/tex][tex]\Delta[/tex]mg, where [tex]\Delta[/tex]m is the supported mass on the point.

x=r[tex]\theta[/tex], where r the distance from the point to the rotating axis and [tex]\theta[/tex] is the angular displacement.

then, W=[tex]\mu\Delta[/tex]mgr[tex]\theta[/tex]
and, W=[tex]\mu[/tex]A[tex]\rho[/tex]gr[tex]\theta[/tex], where [tex]\rho[/tex] is the area density, and A is area of the point, but now we will change it to the area sum of all the points with the same distance as the original point we were using. (which is a circle).

now, the circle has an area of A= 2[tex]\Pi[/tex]r [tex]\Delta[/tex]r, [tex]\rho[/tex]= M/([tex]\Pi[/tex][tex]R^{2}[/tex]), where M is the total mass of the cylinder and R is the radius of the contact surface.

Putting back into the formula, W=Mrg[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex](2[tex]\Pi[/tex]r[tex]\Delta[/tex]r)/([tex]\Pi[/tex][tex]R^{2}[/tex])
It is simplified to W=Mg[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex][tex]r^{2}[/tex][tex]\Delta[/tex]r/([tex]R^{2}[/tex])

Finally, we can use integration to sum it from 0 to R.
W=Mg[tex]\theta[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex]/([tex]R^{2}[/tex])[tex]\int[/tex][tex]r^{2}[/tex][tex]\Delta[/tex]r

and there's my answer: W= [tex]\frac{2}{3}[/tex][tex]\mu[/tex]MgR[tex]\theta[/tex]
 
  • #12
Please please tell me what you guys think. Sorry that I made a lot of mistakes.
There were two that I want to rephrase:
1,where work done W on the point is the product of F the friction force and x the distance travelled.
2,but now we will change it to the area sum of all the points with the same distance from the rotating axis as the original point we were using. (The points form a circle).
 
  • #13
Here, this time I tried my best.

let's start this way, think of a small point on the contacting surface of the cylinder.
[tex]W=Fx[/tex], where work done W on the point is the product of F the friction force and x the distance the point travelled.

And we all know [tex]F=\mu\Delta mg[/tex], where [tex]\Delta m[/tex] is the supported mass on the point.

The point moves in circular motion, therefore [tex]x=r \theta[/tex], where r the distance from the point to the rotating axis and [tex]\theta[/tex] is the angular displacement. Arc length equals to the radius times the angle in radians.

then, [tex]W=\mu\Delta mgr \theta[/tex] This is true because the friction which is constant acts opposite to the motion of the point.
And [tex]W=\mu\rho Agr\theta[/tex], where [tex]\rho[/tex] is the area density, and A is area of the point, but now we will change it to the area sum of all the points with the same distance to the rotating axis as the original point we were using. (The points will form a circle).

now, the circle has an area of [tex]A=2\pi r\Delta r[/tex] and [tex]\rho=\frac{M}{\pi R^{2}}[/tex], where M is the total mass of the cylinder and R is the radius of the contact surface.

Putting back into the formula, [tex]W=\mu\frac{M}{\pi R^{2}}2\pi r\Delta rgr\theta[/tex]
It is simplified to [tex]W=\frac{2\mu Mg\theta}{R^{2}}r^{2}\Delta r[/tex]

Finally, we can use integration to sum it from 0 to R.
[tex]\sum W=\frac{2\mu Mg\theta}{R^{2}}\int^{R}_{0} r^{2}\Delta r[/tex]

and there's my answer: [tex]W=\frac{2}{3}\mu MgR\theta[/tex]
 
  • #14
There's a direction problem in arildno's calc because he uses the direction of N, in the first eqn. only the magnitude is considered.
 
  • #15
I don't think it's wrong. He can do that. He used [tex]\vec{i}_{\theta}[/tex], which is the direction of motion.
 

1. What is friction of a rotating object?

The friction of a rotating object is the resistance force experienced when one surface moves against another. In the case of a rotating object, this refers to the force that opposes the motion of the object around its axis of rotation.

2. How does friction affect a rotating object?

Friction can have both positive and negative effects on a rotating object. On one hand, it can help to maintain the object's stability and prevent it from slipping or sliding. On the other hand, friction can also cause wear and tear on the object, leading to decreased efficiency and potential damage.

3. What factors influence the friction of a rotating object?

The friction of a rotating object can be influenced by several factors, including the type of surface materials, the speed of rotation, the force applied to the object, and the presence of lubricants or other substances between the surfaces.

4. How can friction of a rotating object be reduced?

One way to reduce the friction of a rotating object is to use lubricants, such as oil or grease, between the surfaces. Another method is to use materials with lower coefficients of friction, or to adjust the design of the rotating object to minimize contact between surfaces.

5. How is the friction of a rotating object measured?

The friction of a rotating object can be measured using instruments such as a dynamometer or a tribometer. These devices can measure the amount of force required to rotate the object and can provide data on the coefficient of friction between the surfaces.

Similar threads

Replies
22
Views
2K
  • Mechanics
Replies
13
Views
1K
Replies
19
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
734
  • Mechanics
Replies
26
Views
482
Replies
2
Views
773
Replies
10
Views
1K
Replies
37
Views
2K
Replies
19
Views
1K
Back
Top