Rotational dynamics: Resolving forces

In summary, Frictional force between slope and cylinder produces no torque. Only torque comes from tension times diameter.
  • #1
wcjy
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10
Homework Statement
Consider a cylinder c of mass m = 10 kg and radius r 0.07 m rolls without slipping on slope H as shown below. The string is wrapped around cylinder c and does not stretch and does not slip on the cylinder. Assume the pulley to be massless.

(a) Explain very briefly why when the mass m = 2 kg moves by one meter, cylinder c moves vertically by 0.25m.

(b) Calculate the magnitude of a cm of cylinder c.
Relevant Equations
τ = I α
a = r α
Resolving the weight of the cylinder c, i get Mgcosθ (-y) and Mgsinθ (-x)

mgsinθ - Fs - T = ma ---(1) (where Fs is frictional force and T is tension)

τ = I α (where τ is torque and α is angular acceleration)
torque is produced by both tension and frictional force
(T-Fs) * r = 0.5 m r^2 α
a = r α
T- Fs = 0.5 m a
Fs = T - 0.5ma --- (2)

sub (2) into (1)
mgsinθ - T + 0.5ma -T = ma
mgsinθ -2T = 0.5ma
mgsingθ - 2(mg) = 0.5ma (where m in T is 2kg)
after putting in numbers,
a = 1.96m/s^2 ans: 0.426m/s^2
 

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  • #2
Frictional force between slope and cylinder produces no torque.
Only torque comes from tension times diameter.

For an instantaneous snapshot of the configuration, which is what the problem asks for, it does not matter either you have a cylinder or a vertical bar with fulcrum at low end and tension acting on top end.

Please, see this excellent tutorial:
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/explaining-rolling-motion/

:cool:
 
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  • #3
why though, frictional force doesn't act thru the cm thus it should by right cause torque. is my understanding flawed?
 
  • #4
Yes.
Please, see link above.
 
  • #5
soo am i right to use frictional force in my working?
 
  • #6
Lnewqban said:
Frictional force between slope and cylinder produces no torque.
Well, that depends on the chosen axis.
If you take the cylinder's centre as axis then both string and friction produce torque, and to find the acceleration the value of I is ##\frac 12mr^2##.
But if you take the point of contact with the plane as axis then only the string exerts a torque and the MoI has to be adjusted according to the parallel axis theorem.
 
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  • #7
wait so now I am confused. am i right or am i wrong
 
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  • #8
wcjy said:
wait so now I am confused. am i right or am i wrong
When converting between rotational and linear motion and forces you must pay careful attention to signs.
Your linear acceleration equation for the cylinder takes a as positive down the slope. If you divide a by r then the rotational acceleration is therefore positive anticlockwise. But your torque equation takes clockwise as positive (T-Fs).
 
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  • #9
haruspex said:
When converting between rotational and linear motion and forces you must pay careful attention to signs.
Your linear acceleration equation for the cylinder takes a as positive down the slope. If you divide a by r then the rotational acceleration is therefore positive anticlockwise. But your torque equation takes clockwise as positive (T-Fs).
thanks for spotting out this mistake. However, after correcting, I still do not get the answer
i changed my equation to Fs - T= 0.5ma
 
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  • #10
wcjy said:
thanks for spotting out this mistake. However, after correcting, I still do not get the answer
Your next error was assuming the tension is just the weight of the hanging mass. If that were true, what would the acceleration of that mass be?
 
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  • #11
g?
 
  • #12
wcjy said:
g?
What would the net force acting on the m=2kg mass be if the tension were mg?
 
  • #13
0
 
  • #14
why isn't the tension mg though? the weight of small mass is mg, therefore the tension in the string holding it should be mg due to N1L. since pulley is massless, the T should be = mg
 
  • #15
wcjy said:
0
Right, so m would not accelerate.
What equation can you write for its acceleration? (Remember to use the result of the first part.)
 
  • #16
sorry i lost you there.
 
  • #17
wcjy said:
sorry i lost you there.
Write the vertical balance of forces, ΣF=ma, for mass m. How does its acceleration relate to the cylinder’s?
 
  • #18
I'm not quite sure what you mean by vertical balance but I guess the small mass accelerates the same amount that the cylinder does.
i really don't understand why I am wrong, tension and friction acts in the (x) direction, and mgsin θ acts in the (-x) direction.

and the tension which is in the (x) direction is mg. the weight of small mass is mg, therefore the tension in the string holding it should be mg due to N1L. since pulley is massless, the T should be = mg

mgsin θ - T - fs = (m+M)a
 
  • #19
wcjy said:
I'm not quite sure what you mean by vertical balance but I guess the small mass accelerates the same amount that the cylinder does.
i really don't understand why I am wrong, tension and friction acts in the (x) direction, and mgsin θ acts in the (-x) direction.

and the tension which is in the (x) direction is mg. the weight of small mass is mg, therefore the tension in the string holding it should be mg due to N1L. since pulley is massless, the T should be = mg

mgsin θ - T - fs = (m+M)a
As I explained, by vertical balance of forces I mean applying Newton’s second law, ΣF=ma, to the forces acting vertically on m and its resulting acceleration. You are assuming the tension is mg, but if you apply Newton's law you will find it is not.

Your assumption that the cylinder’s mass centre has the same acceleration as m is also incorrect. The first part of the question was designed to help you avoid that mistake. Did you do the first part?
 
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  • #20
ok sorry i had a big misconception. i finally understand what you are talking about the tension
T - mg = ma for small mass

Mgsin θ - Fs - mg = (M + m) a
 
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  • #21
wcjy said:
ok sorry i had a big misconception. i finally understand what you are talking about the tension
T - mg = ma for small mass

Mgsin θ - Fs - mg = (M + m) a
Yes, except that as I keep pointing out the two masses do not have the same linear acceleration. If mass m rises by 1m, how far does the cylinder roll down the slope?
 
  • #22
can i just clarify for part a, the reason why its vert height drops by only 0.25m, is because the cylinder is wrapped around by the string, so when the small mass goes up by 1m, the distance cylinder travels diagonally downwards is 0.5m (since the string roll up on the cylinder). therefore vertically is 0.5*0.5 = 0.25m
 
  • #23
wcjy said:
can i just clarify for part a, the reason why its vert height drops by only 0.25m, is because the cylinder is wrapped around by the string, so when the small mass goes up by 1m, the distance cylinder travels diagonally downwards is 0.5m (since the string roll up on the cylinder). therefore vertically is 0.5*0.5 = 0.25m
Yes. Now, we don't need to multiply by the second .5 because we are interested in the motion of the cylinder down the plane, not its vertical movement. But what does this tell you about the two accelerations?
 
  • #24
the acceleration of the cylinder is half of small mass?
 
  • #25
wcjy said:
the acceleration of the cylinder is half of small mass?
Yes.
 
  • #26
so when i rewrite my equations,
T - mg = ma(small mass)
Mgsin θ - T - Fs = Ma(cylinder)
2a(cylinder) = a(small mass)

is this correct so far?
 
  • #27
i got the answer. thanks for being patient and thanks for teaching me. <3
 
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  • #28
wcjy said:
Homework Statement:: Consider a cylinder c of mass m = 10 kg and radius r 0.07 m rolls without slipping on slope H as shown below. The string is wrapped around cylinder c and does not stretch and does not slip on the cylinder. Assume the pulley to be massless.

(a) Explain very briefly why when the mass m = 2 kg moves by one meter, cylinder c moves vertically by 0.25m.

(b) Calculate the magnitude of a cm of cylinder c.
Relevant Equations:: τ = I α
a = r α

---(1) (where Fs is frictional force and T
wcjy said:
can i just clarify for part a, the reason why its vert height drops by only 0.25m, is because the cylinder is wrapped around by the string, so when the small mass goes up by 1m, the distance cylinder travels diagonally downwards is 0.5m (since the string roll up on the cylinder). therefore vertically is 0.5*0.5 = 0.25m
I dun understand this why the cylinder will travel diagonally by 0.5
 
  • #29
This thread is a bit more than 2 years old, but I will answer it because it is important for you to get this straight. Do a simple experiment as illustrated in the figure below.
RollingOnCan.png

Place a can on a table and put a meter stick on the can with its tip above the center of the can. Place a small object on the table directly below the tip of the stick and the center of the table (where the dotted line is in the figure). Push the stick slowly so that it rolls without slipping on the can and the can rolls without slipping on the table. Stop when the 50 cm mark (half the length of the stick) is in contact with the can. Measure the length from the marker to the center of the can. It will be 50 cm. However, the tip of the rod has moved by 100 cm (the full length of the rod.)

Conclusion: When the stick advances by ##L##, the center of the can advances by ##L/2##. The same is true when, instead of a stick, you have a string unwrapping around the cylinder without slipping. That's because when the cylinder rolls without slipping on the table, the point in contact with the table is instantaneously at rest, the center of the circle is moving with speed ##v_c=\omega R## and the point at the top in contact with the rod is moving with speed ##v_t=\omega(2R)## which is twice as much as ##v_c##. Hence, the tip moves twice as fast as the center.
 
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  • #30
rolling-cylinder.png
 

1. What is rotational dynamics?

Rotational dynamics is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects that are rotating or moving in a circular path. It involves the study of the forces and torques that act on an object to cause rotational motion.

2. What is the difference between linear and rotational dynamics?

Linear dynamics deals with the motion of objects in a straight line, while rotational dynamics deals with the motion of objects in a circular path. The main difference is that rotational motion involves the concept of torque, which is the force that causes an object to rotate, while linear motion involves the concept of force, which causes an object to move in a straight line.

3. How do you resolve forces in rotational dynamics?

To resolve forces in rotational dynamics, you must first identify the forces acting on an object and their respective magnitudes and directions. Then, using the principles of vector addition and trigonometry, you can break down the forces into their horizontal and vertical components. Finally, you can use these components to calculate the net torque acting on the object.

4. What is the role of the center of mass in rotational dynamics?

The center of mass is an important concept in rotational dynamics as it is the point around which an object's mass is evenly distributed. It is also the point at which the net torque acting on an object is zero, meaning that it does not rotate around this point. The center of mass is also used to calculate the moment of inertia, which is a measure of an object's resistance to rotational motion.

5. How is rotational dynamics applied in real life?

Rotational dynamics has many practical applications in various fields, including engineering, sports, and transportation. For example, engineers use rotational dynamics to design machines and structures that can withstand rotational forces, such as bridges and wind turbines. In sports, rotational dynamics is used to analyze the movements of athletes, such as gymnasts and figure skaters. In transportation, rotational dynamics is used to design vehicles that can make turns and navigate curves safely and efficiently.

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