Total energy of system along axis

AI Thread Summary
The total energy of an isolated system is expressed as E = (1/2)mv² + (1/2)Iω² + mgh. When considering velocity along two axes, the correct approach is to calculate the translational kinetic energy using KE = (1/2)m(v_x² + v_y²). To extract the final velocity from the initial total energy and final rotational energy, the conservation of energy equation can be used, leading to v = √((E_i - IW²)/m). However, determining the final velocity direction requires additional information about constraint forces, as energy conservation alone does not provide vector direction. For collision resolution, both initial and final velocities must be known to calculate the final angular velocity.
alterecho
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Its stated that total energy of an isolated system is given by
E = \frac{1}{2}mv^{2} + \frac{1}{2}Iω^{2} + mgh.

Whats the correct form when the velocity is along 2 axis, that is, along x and y-axis like v = (2, 1)?
Should the resultant be taken or just add the kinetic energies along each axis?

I've been searching awhile but can't find an accurate answer.

thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
alterecho said:
Whats the correct form when the velocity is along 2 axis, that is, along x and y-axis like v = (2, 1)?
Should the resultant be taken or just add the kinetic energies along each axis?
The translational KE would be:
KE = 1/2mv^2 = 1/2m(v_x^2 + v_y^2)
 
Thanks. I have a further related question. Now suppose i want to extract the final velocity given the initial total energy, the final rotational energy (assuming the potential energies are 0 in this case) using the law of conservation of energy given by,

\frac{1}{2}mu^{2} + \frac{1}{2}Iω^{2} = \frac{1}{2}mv^{2} + \frac{1}{2}IW^{2}

or

mu^{2} + Iω^{2} = mv^{2} + IW^{2}

since initial energy of the system is known, left side of the equation becomes E_{i},
E_{i} = mv^{2} + IW^{2}

since m, I and W_{2} are known, i get the equation for finding the velocity as,
v = \sqrt{\frac{E_{i} - IW^{2}}{m}}

But how do i break it down into x and y coordinates?
 
alterecho said:
But how do i break it down into x and y coordinates?
There's no way to tell the final velocity direction from conservation of energy alone. You'll have to know the details of the constraint forces involved. (Energy is a scalar, not a vector.)
 
Oh. But I've read that for resolution of collision, they take into consideration energy conservation. So how would they resolve it? Are we supposed to know the initial and final velocities and then calculate the final angular velocity from that?
 
So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
Back
Top