Solving Mechanics Problem: Flywheel Revolutions & Acceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a mechanics problem involving a flywheel that is decelerating uniformly from an initial speed of 800 revolutions per minute to rest over a period of 6 seconds. Participants are tasked with calculating the number of revolutions made before coming to rest, as well as determining the linear acceleration components of a point on the flywheel shortly before it stops.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of rotational kinematic equations and the importance of demonstrating prior attempts to solve the problem. Some suggest deriving equations for the position of a particle on the flywheel and calculating angular acceleration and velocity at specific times. Others mention the need to find centripetal and tangential acceleration components.

Discussion Status

Some participants have made attempts to solve part (a) of the problem, arriving at a result of 40 revolutions. However, there is uncertainty regarding part (b), with various suggestions on how to approach the calculations for linear acceleration. The conversation reflects a mix of interpretations and methods being explored without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants are encouraged to provide their own attempts and reasoning, as this is a homework help forum. The problem involves specific constraints such as the fixed radius of the flywheel and the time frame for calculations.

2502floyd
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Can anyone please please please :cry: :cry: help?

A flywheel initially rotating at a speed of 800 rev/min, is brought to rest with uniform angular deceleration in 6 secs.

a. How many revolutions does the flywheel make before coming to rest?

b. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant linear acceleration of a point A on the flywheel 0.2s before coming to rest. Draw a vector diagram showing the magnitude and direction of the resultant linear acceleration and its radial and tangentail components. A is positioned at a fixed radius of 160mm from the axis of rotation.

c. At what time will both the radial and tangential components of acceleration be equal in magnitude.

:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
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Do you know the rotational kinematic equations?

When you ask for help here, you're much more likely to get responses if you indicate that you've tried something. This is a homework help forum rather than a do your homework for you forum.
 
I have attempted part a
and I make it 40 revolutions.

But part b I don't know where to start.
 
2502floyd said:
I have attempted part a
and I make it 40 revolutions.

But part b I don't know where to start.

Well, if you know enough calculus you can write equations that describe the position of a paticle at the edge of the wheel, and take derivatives.

Alternatively, if you determine the angular speed and acceleration of the wheel at the moment that the problem is asking for, you should be able to determine the centripetal (radial) and tangential acceleration of a particle at the edge of the wheel.

Try answering the following questions (roughly in order):

What is the angular acceleration at the requested time? (This should be easy.)
What is the tangential acceleration of a point at the edge of the wheel based on the radius, and the angular acceleration?
What is the angular velocity at the requested time?
What is the centripetal acceleration of a point at the edge of the wheel at the requested time?
 
Have you ever seen this:

[tex]\vec {\rm a}=(\frac{d^2r}{dt^2}-r\omega^2)\hat{{\rm e}}_r+(r\alpha+2\frac{dr}{dt}\omega)\hat{{\rm e}}_\theta[/tex]

r is a constant thus it's derivative is zero so you're left with:

[tex]\vec {\rm a}=-r\omega^2\hat{{\rm e}}_r+r\alpha\hat{{\rm e}}_\theta[/tex]

Once you find the above, you'll have direction and magnitude is a simple calculation.

If you were able to calculate the 40 revs then finding the point at 0.2s should be just as easy. Find [itex]\alpha[/itex] (you should have this already) and use that to find [itex]\omega_f[/itex] by integrating:

[tex]\alpha \int_0^{(6s-0.2s)}\ dt=\int_{\omega_o}^{\omega_f}\ d\omega[/tex]

[itex]\omega[/itex] was given, you have alpha, you have r, and the above yields [itex]\omega_f[/itex] which is used in the acceleration equation.

As for c: what is the orientation of velocity and acceleration to any function?
 

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