Bar coming to a rest (vertical position)

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the dynamics of a uniform bar of mass m and length l that collides with the ground at an angle of 30º. The key conclusion is that the initial velocity v1 required for the bar to rotate and come to rest in a vertical position can be expressed as v1 = (8/3)vCG, where vCG is the velocity of the center of gravity. The participants emphasize the importance of applying conservation of angular momentum while neglecting the impulse from gravity during the collision. The confusion arises from the incorrect application of linear momentum conservation due to the unknown direction of the ground reaction force.

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Bar collision with ground

Homework Statement


A uniform bar of mass m and length l has no angular velocity when the extremity A hits the ground without bouncing. If the angle α is 30º, what is the magnitude of v1, so that the bar rotates, around A, until it immobilizes on the vertical position.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4899/pictrt.png

Homework Equations



[tex]\frac{dL}{dt} = \tau[/tex]
[tex]\frac{dp}{dt} = F[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



After the collision one can solve applying conservation of energy. From now I'm only considering the collision.
Now, my teacher says that the impulse by gravity is negligible and so, using conservation of angular momentum:

[tex]m v_1 \sin {30º} \dfrac{l}{2} + 0 = mv_{CG}\dfrac{l}{2} + I_{CG} \omega_2 \Rightarrow v_1 = \frac{4}{3}l\omega_2 = \frac{8}{3}v_{CG}[/tex]

If we apply conservation of linear momentum in the direction perpendicular to the bar, the only force acting on this direction is gravity and if we neglect it (as above), we have:

[tex]\Delta p = F \Delta t = 0[/tex]

And so, I would conclude that the velocity perpendicular (vCG above) remains constant and so

[tex]v_{CG} = v_1 \sin \alpha = \dfrac{v_1}{2}[/tex]Am I missing something? If yes, what?EDIT: I was thinking and maybe, my error was thinking that the ground reaction had to in the same direction of the bar. Now I don't believe that this is necessarily true. Is this the error?

Thank You
 
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Hi Krappy! :smile:

I don't understand why you didn't stop here …
Krappy said:
[tex]m v_1 \sin {30º} \dfrac{l}{2} + 0 = mv_{CG}\dfrac{l}{2} + I_{CG} \omega_2 \Rightarrow v_1 = \frac{4}{3}l\omega_2 = \frac{8}{3}v_{CG}[/tex]

… you now have initial ω as a function of v1, what else is there to do? :confused:

(and yes, you can't apply conservation of momentum separately, since you have no idea which direction the reaction force is, unless you deduce it from the ω equation which you already have)

now apply conservation of energy :smile:
 
Hi tiny-tim! Thanks for answering.

I was confused, because if I applied angular momentum conservation I would get a different result of applying linear momentum conservation. What I was missing and later found (which you confirmed) is that I couldn't apply the latter because I don't know the reaction force (initially I thought that it was directed along the bar, but I now I know it isn't.)

Thank you
 

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