Angular Momentum of a counterweight

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the angular momentum and acceleration of a counterweight system attached to a spool. The net torque on the system was calculated to be 3.61 Nm. For part B, the total angular momentum was derived using the equation L = rp + Iω, with the rotational inertia of the solid cylinder noted as 0.5MR². The user sought clarification on performing cross products and the correct approach to derive the acceleration in part C, ultimately realizing that linear acceleration should be expressed in m/s² rather than angular units. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the relationships between torque, angular momentum, and acceleration in rotational dynamics.
Sheneron
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[SOLVED] Angular Momentum

Homework Statement


A 4.60 kg counterweight is attached to a light cord, which is wound around a spool (refer to Fig. 10.20). The spool is a uniform solid cylinder of radius 8.00 cm and mass 1.30 kg.
(a) What is the net torque on the system about the point O?
Magnitude
(b) When the counterweight has a speed v, the pulley has an angular speed = v/R. Determine the total angular momentum of the system about O.
(c) Using the fact that = dL/dt and your result from (b), calculate the acceleration of the counterweight.

Homework Equations


L = r X P
\tau = r X F
L = I\omega

The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to solve the first part:
\tau = rF
\tau = (0.08)(4.6)(9.8) = 3.61 Nm

I am not sure how to solve part B though, here is what I tried but it was wrong:

L_{net} = rp + I\omega
L_{net} = r X mv + I*\frac{v}{r}
L_{net} = v (r X m + \frac{I}{r})

I factored out the v because it doesn't give you the velocity, and the answer space looks like this:

________ X v kg *m^2/s
 
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Sheneron said:
I am not sure how to solve part B though, here is what I tried but it was wrong:

L_{net} = rp + I\omega
L_{net} = r X mv + I*\frac{v}{r}
L_{net} = v (r X m + \frac{I}{r})
Looks OK to me--keep going.

Hint: What's the rotational inertia of a solid cylinder?
 
Rotational inertia of a solid cylinder is 0.5MR^2

With my equation there, at the rXm, do I have to do the cross product?
 
Sheneron said:
Rotational inertia of a solid cylinder is 0.5MR^2
Good.

With my equation there, at the rXm, do I have to do the cross product?
You can only take cross products of vectors, so r X m doesn't make sense. (I was wondering if you meant that X as a cross product or just as multiplication.) The time to do the cross product is before you factor out the speed.

In the definition of angular momentum of a particle, \vec{L} = \vec{r}\times m\vec{v}, \vec{r} is the position vector of the particle. The cross product turns out to be easy to evaluate in terms of r (the radius). So what is the angular momentum of the particle?
 
I don't know. I am a little unclear about how to do cross products.
 
Can someone tell me how I would go about cross producting \vec{L} = \vec{r}\times m\vec{v}<br />
 

Homework Statement


A 4.60 kg counterweight is attached to a light cord, which is wound around a spool (refer to Fig. 10.20). The spool is a uniform solid cylinder of radius 8.00 cm and mass 1.30 kg.
(a) What is the net torque on the system about the point O?
Magnitude
(b) When the counterweight has a speed v, the pulley has an angular speed = v/R. Determine the total angular momentum of the system about O.
(c) Using the fact that = dL/dt and your result from (b), calculate the acceleration of the counterweight.


Homework Equations


L = r X P
\tau = r X F
L = I\omega

The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to solve the first part:
\tau = rF
\tau = (0.08)(4.6)(9.8) = 3.61 Nm

I am not sure how to solve part B though,

L_{net} = rp + I\omega
L_{net} = (r)mv + I*\frac{v}{r}

L_{net} = v (rm + \frac{I}{r})
L_{net} = v [ (.08)(4.6) + \frac{1}{2}(1.30)(.08)]}
L_{net} = v(0.42)

I factored out the v because it doesn't give you the velocity, and the answer space looks like this:

________ X v kg *m^2/s

Is that how I would go about part B? Thanks
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Looks good to me.
 
Can you help me with part c?
 
  • #10
Sheneron said:
Can you help me with part c?
What's the full statement of part c? (Your initial post has something missing.) You'll need to take the derivative of L (that's what dL/dt means).
 
  • #11
sorry, yes I know i have to take the derivative...
Here is the post:
Using the fact that t = dL/dt and your result from (b), calculate the acceleration of the counterweight.

so would it be: 3.61 = dL/dt and dL/dt= 0.42dv/dt and dv/dt is acceleration so would it be a= 3.61*0.42
 
  • #12
Sheneron said:
so would it be: 3.61 = dL/dt and dL/dt= 0.42dv/dt and dv/dt is acceleration
Good.
so would it be a= 3.61*0.42
Divide, not multiply, by 0.42.
 
  • #13
haha yeah i just realized that.

Thank ye
 
  • #14


just wondering what units the final answer is in - if the counterweight is just accelerating downwards, do we still write the answer in rads/sec^2 ?
 
  • #15


or would it be in N*s/kg?

(N*m)/(kg*m^2/s)
 
  • #16


FailWhale42 said:
just wondering what units the final answer is in - if the counterweight is just accelerating downwards, do we still write the answer in rads/sec^2 ?
The final answer for what question? rads/sec^2 are units for angular acceleration; the counterweight has linear acceleration, which has units of m/s^2.
 
  • #17


Doc Al said:
The final answer for what question? rads/sec^2 are units for angular acceleration; the counterweight has linear acceleration, which has units of m/s^2.

thankyou! :) i was thinking angular acceleration *facepalm* :)
 
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