Angular Acceleration of Poll: Find the Equation

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the angular acceleration of a pole released from a horizontal position, with specific focus on its rotational inertia and energy conservation principles. The correct rotational inertia to use is 1/3mL², which is about the pivot point, not the center of mass. Participants clarify that all parts of the pole share the same angular acceleration and emphasize the importance of accurately determining potential energy (PE) relative to the pivot point. Additionally, they caution against double counting kinetic energy (KE) in the energy conservation equation. The final consensus confirms that the approach to finding angular velocity as a function of angle is on the right track.
asi123
Messages
254
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Hey guys.
I got this poll which is at one side connected to a wall and is being released from a horizontal state.
his length is L and mass m.
I need to find the angular acceleration of the poll as a function of the angle.
I got this answer in the pic but according to them the answer should be what I marked in the red box.

Any idea? am I wrong?

10x.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 

Attachments

  • scan0008.jpg
    scan0008.jpg
    24.3 KB · Views: 409
Physics news on Phys.org
You are using the parallel axis theorem to find the rotational inertia, but 1/3mL² is the rotational inertia about the axis (what you need) not the center of mass.
 
Doc Al said:
You are using the parallel axis theorem to find the rotational inertia, but 1/3mL² is the rotational inertia about the axis (what you need) not the center of mass.

Oh, stupid me, 10x.
 
Another thing.
First of all, when they say this is the angular acceleration of the poll, does it mean the angular acceleration of the center of mass?
In the next part of the question, they ask for the angular velocity as a function of \varphi.
I tried to use energy conservation and came up with this equation:
mgL=mgL(1-1/2\cos(\varphi))+1/2 mv^2+1/2 I\omega^2
When
v = \omega*(L/2)

Is this right?

10x.
 
asi123 said:
First of all, when they say this is the angular acceleration of the poll, does it mean the angular acceleration of the center of mass?
All parts of the pole have the same angular acceleration.
In the next part of the question, they ask for the angular velocity as a function of \varphi.
I tried to use energy conservation and came up with this equation:
mgL=mgL(1-1/2\cos(\varphi))+1/2 mv^2+1/2 I\omega^2
When
v = \omega*(L/2)

Is this right?
Not exactly:
  1. Where are you measuring PE with respect to? (Where does PE = 0?) What's the initial PE?
  2. Since the angle is measured from the horizontal, revisit how the PE varies with angle.
  3. Be careful not to count KE twice. The pole can be considered to be in pure rotation about the pivot, so 1/2 I\omega^2 represents the entire KE.
 
Doc Al said:
All parts of the pole have the same angular acceleration.

Not exactly:
  1. Where are you measuring PE with respect to? (Where does PE = 0?) What's the initial PE?
  2. Since the angle is measured from the horizontal, revisit how the PE varies with angle.
  3. Be careful not to count KE twice. The pole can be considered to be in pure rotation about the pivot, so 1/2 I\omega^2 represents the entire KE.

Is this right?
 

Attachments

  • scan0009.jpg
    scan0009.jpg
    20.2 KB · Views: 421
asi123 said:
Is this right?
Yes. That looks good.
 
10x.
 
Back
Top