Angular acceleration of a wheel

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a wheel mounted on a frictionless axis, connected to a block via a cord. The scenario includes parameters such as the radius of the wheel, its rotational inertia, the mass of the block, and an applied force. The objective is to determine the angular acceleration of the wheel based on these factors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the applied force, the forces acting on the block, and the torque on the wheel. There are attempts to express the forces in terms of equations and to clarify the setup of the problem, including the orientation of the cord and the conditions of the block.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively exploring the relationships between the forces and accelerations involved. Some guidance has been provided regarding how to set up the equations, but there is still uncertainty about specific calculations and the understanding of the relationships between linear and angular quantities.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the need for a diagram to clarify the physical setup, and some participants express confusion about the calculations and the roles of different forces. The discussion reflects an ongoing exploration of the problem without a clear resolution yet.

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A wheel of radius 0.2m is mounted on a frictionless horizontal axis. The rotational inertia of the wheel about the axis is 0.05kg(m^2). A massless cord wrapped around the wheel is attached to a 2kg block that slides horizontally. If a horizontal force of magnitude P=3N is applied to the block, what is the angular acceleration of the wheel?

r=0.2m
I=0.05kg(m^2)
m=2kg
P=3.0N

[tex]T = rFsin \theta[/tex]
[tex]T = 0.6[/tex]
[tex]T=I \alpha[/tex]
[tex]T = 12RPM^2[/tex] Units?

im guessing this is wrong because I never had to use the mass anywhere

Can anyone help?
 
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Any help would be appreciated
 
I'm a bit unclear what a diagram of this looks like.

The cord that is wrapped around the wheel. It comes off the top or bottom of the wheel ?
Is the cord at an angle when it comes off the wheel, or is is horizontal ?
Is this cord then horizontally attached to the 2kbg block ?
Is the 2 kg block resting on a frictionless surface ?
 
its horizontal
yes its horizontally attached
yes its on a frictionless surface
 
OK.
You have a force P applied to the 2 kg block.
This force accelerates both the 2kg block and the Wheel.
Divide up this force into two components, F1 and F2. Obviously F1 + F2 = P

Let F1 be the accelerating force on the 2kg block.
Let F2 provide the accelerating torque on the wheel.
Since they are both attached, then the linear acceleration of the circumference of the wheel matches the linear acceleration of the 2 kg block.

Can you work things out from this ?
 
hmm..im still not surbe I understand
Im trying ot find F2?
P is known
how would i calculate F1?
 
You don't calculate either F1 or F2.
You create expressions involving F1 and F2 and then add the expressions together to equal P. F1 +F2 = P.

F1 is the accelerating force on the 2kg block, ergo

F1 = ma (m = 2kg)

F2 provides the torque on the wheel, ergo

F2*r = I*alpha

ergo²,

F1 + F2 = P
ma + I*alpha/r = P

The only unknowns now are a and alpha, the linear and angular accelerations.

You have to find a relatoinshipo between them. Remember my comment in my earlier post.
 
so a=alpha(r)
 
Yep, that's it :smile:

The rest should fall out now.
 

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