Dynamics smooth circular bar Problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a smooth circular bar rotating with a constant angular velocity about a vertical axis, with a mass positioned at an angle of 40 degrees. The objective is to determine the angular velocity given the radius of the bar and the mass's stationary position relative to it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on the mass, including tension and gravitational forces, and explore the implications of the mass being held by the rotating bar without any strings. There are attempts to derive relationships between angular velocity, radius, and gravitational force.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem with various interpretations of the forces involved. Some participants express uncertainty about the role of tangential acceleration and the setup of the problem, while others provide mathematical expressions related to the forces acting on the mass. No consensus has been reached, and the discussion remains active.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of strings in the setup, which raises questions about how the mass is maintained in its position. The problem constraints include the constant angular velocity and the specific angle at which the mass is positioned.

supersix2
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I think I did this problem correctly however I am not 100% sure. Unfortunatley the Dynamics book that I have only gives answers to even numbered problems and I cannot check me work.

Anyway here is the problem from the book.

The smooth circular bar rotates with constant angular velocity about the vertical axis AB. The radius R = 0.5 m The mass m remains stationary relative to the circular bar at an angle of 40 degrees. Determine the angular velocity.

Here is my work:

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2510&stc=1

My answer just in case you can't read it is 3.877 rad/s.

Thanks!
 

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supersix2 said:
I think I did this problem correctly however I am not 100% sure. Unfortunatley the Dynamics book that I have only gives answers to even numbered problems and I cannot check me work.
The tension, T, in the string provides both the horizontal (centripetal) and vertical (mg) forces.

So:
(1)[tex]Tcos\beta = mg[/tex]
(2)[tex]Tsin\beta = m\omega^2r[/tex]

Dividing (2) by (1):

[tex]tan\beta = \omega^2r/g[/tex]

[tex]\omega = \sqrt{gtan\beta/r}[/tex]

But [itex]r = Rsin\beta[/itex], so:

[tex]\omega = \sqrt{g/Rcos\beta}[/tex]

[tex]\omega = \sqrt{9.8*/.766*.5} = 5.06 rad sec^{-1}[/tex]


AM
 
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Thanks for the help...but there is no string the mass is just held there by the Forces of the rotating bar. I'm not sure if that would change what you told me.
 
Bump. I'm still unsure about this problem. Remember there are no strings attached to the mass.
 
supersix2 said:
Thanks for the help...but there is no string the mass is just held there by the Forces of the rotating bar. I'm not sure if that would change what you told me.
Perhaps you can explain how the mass is held there.

AM
 
The circular bar is rotating causing a radial accelertation which in turn causes a force that counteracts the component of the object's weight in the normal direction.

However, my intution is playing tricks on me because I don't think I can ignore the component of the objects weight in the tangential directionn. However, since the angular velocity is constant there is no tangential acceleration meaning there is no force in the tangential direction.

This reasoning leave me to believe that the method is used (as shown in my attachment) is the right method but I am not 100% sure.

The method you showed does make sense if the mass is also supporeted by strings (which it is not). The lines I drew in my picture are dimension lines that show the angle and radius.
 
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supersix2 said:
The circular bar is rotating causing a radial accelertation which in turn causes a force that counteracts the component of the object's weight in the normal direction.
That doesn't tell me how it is held there. Is the mass a ring that surrounds the circular bar?

AM
 
Yea, the mass is a ring attached to the circular bar. I suppose its like a washer or something attached to the bar. The bar is spinning and object is help there by the force of the radial acceleration and perhaps, the force of the tangential acceleration. Although I am not entirely sure there is a tangential acceleratoin since the rotataional velcocity is constant.
 
Note that you've got TWO unknowns here:
The angular velocity, and the magnitude of the NORMAL force acting upon the mass from the circle.
To set the problem up let [tex]\vec{j},\vec{i}[/tex] be unit vectors in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively.
We then have that the outwards normal vector is given by:
[tex]\vec{n}=\sin\beta\vec{i}-\cos\beta\vec{j}[/tex]
with associated tangent vector:
[tex]\vec{t}=\cos\beta\vec{i}+\sin\beta\vec{j}[/tex]
or:
[tex]\vec{i}=\cos\beta\vec{t}+\sin\beta\vec{n}[/tex]
[tex]\vec{j}=\sin\beta\vec{t}-\cos\beta\vec{n}[/tex]
The centrifugal force is:
[tex]\vec{f}_{c}=m\omega^{2}R\sin\beta\vec{i}=m\omega^{2}R\sin\beta(\cos\beta\vec{t}+\sin\beta\vec{n})[/tex]
the weight:
[tex]\vec{w}=-mg\vec{j}=mg(\cos\beta\vec{n}-\sin\beta\vec{t})[/tex]
whereas the normal force is assumed parallell the inwards normal:
[tex]\vec{N}=-F\vec{n}[/tex]
Hence, equilibrium of forces in the tangential direction requires:
[tex]m\omega^{2}R\sin\beta\cos\beta-mg\sin\beta=0\to\omega^{2}=\frac{g}{R\cos\beta}[/tex]
Equilibrium in the normal direction:
[tex]-F+mg\cos\beta+m\omega^{2}R\sin\beta\sin\beta=0\to{F}=\frac{mg}{\cos\beta}[/tex]

Note that when [tex]\beta=0[/tex] (i.e, the mass is on the rotation axis), any value of angular velocity is in this analysis acceptable, since there is no induced centrifugal force, whereas [tex]\beta=\frac{\pi}{2}[/tex] is impossible to achieve.
 
Last edited:

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