Nitrus
I've got a test coming up with a problem similar to this one, I've figured out some of it but I am kinda lost on the rest, here it goes:
A solid sphere (radius = R) rolls without slipping in a cylindrical trough (radius = 5R). Show that, for small displacements from equilibrium perpendicular to the length of the trough, the sphere executes simple harmonic motion with a period T=2pi (28R/5g)^1/2.
Work:
I decided on taking an energy approach to this problem, and by doing so I must look at the KE of both the sphere and the effect the trough has on it.
<br /> v= \frac {ds} {dt} = 4R \frac {d\theta} {dt}<br />
<br /> V=\frac {ds}{dt} = R\Omega<br />
<p>
<br /> \Omega =\frac {V} {R} = 4 \frac {d\theta} {dt}<br />
with that we have the following (also including moment of intertia for the sphere)
<br /> K = \frac {1} {2} 4R {\frac {d\theta}{dt}}^2 + \frac {1} {2}(\frac{2} {5} mR^2)(4{\frac {d\theta}{dt}}^2))<br />
the trough is a half circle by the way...
that all simplifies to
<br /> ((\frac {d\theta}{dt}))^2 \frac {56mR^2}{5}<br />
so now i have the energy of the system, what should i do next?
A solid sphere (radius = R) rolls without slipping in a cylindrical trough (radius = 5R). Show that, for small displacements from equilibrium perpendicular to the length of the trough, the sphere executes simple harmonic motion with a period T=2pi (28R/5g)^1/2.
Work:
I decided on taking an energy approach to this problem, and by doing so I must look at the KE of both the sphere and the effect the trough has on it.
<br /> v= \frac {ds} {dt} = 4R \frac {d\theta} {dt}<br />
<br /> V=\frac {ds}{dt} = R\Omega<br />
<p>
<br /> \Omega =\frac {V} {R} = 4 \frac {d\theta} {dt}<br />
with that we have the following (also including moment of intertia for the sphere)
<br /> K = \frac {1} {2} 4R {\frac {d\theta}{dt}}^2 + \frac {1} {2}(\frac{2} {5} mR^2)(4{\frac {d\theta}{dt}}^2))<br />
the trough is a half circle by the way...
that all simplifies to
<br /> ((\frac {d\theta}{dt}))^2 \frac {56mR^2}{5}<br />
so now i have the energy of the system, what should i do next?
Last edited by a moderator: