Calculate Brick Velocity & Draw Displacement-Time Graph

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter mathlearn
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Graph Velocity
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the velocity of a brick at the bottom of an inclined plane and sketching the corresponding displacement-time graph. Participants explore the application of conservation of energy principles and the characteristics of the motion involved, including assumptions about friction and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose using conservation of energy to calculate the velocity, equating gravitational potential energy at the top to kinetic energy at the bottom.
  • One participant presents the equation \(mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2\) and suggests solving for \(v\) to find the velocity at the bottom of the gutter.
  • Another participant calculates the velocity using \(v=\sqrt{2gh}\) and provides numerical values for \(g\) and \(h\) to arrive at an approximate velocity of \(9.9045\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}\).
  • Concerns are raised about the units used in calculations, specifically regarding the interpretation of speed and energy units.
  • Participants discuss the nature of the displacement-time graph, with some suggesting it should reflect constant acceleration and others questioning the return to zero displacement.
  • One participant sketches acceleration and velocity graphs, indicating that speed increases linearly until the end of the slope, after which it remains constant.
  • There is a suggestion that the brick may come to a stop in sand at the bottom of the slope, affecting the displacement graph's shape.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the shape of the displacement-time graph and whether the brick returns to zero displacement. There is no consensus on the final form of the graph or the implications of the brick's motion after reaching the bottom of the slope.

Contextual Notes

Assumptions about friction, the nature of the inclined plane, and the final resting position of the brick are not fully resolved, leading to varying interpretations of the motion and resulting graphs.

mathlearn
Messages
331
Reaction score
0
View attachment 6143

Calculate the velocity of the brick at the bottom of the inclined plane.

State the assumption you made for your calculation in part above.

& Sketch the displacement-time graph relevant to the movement of the brick along the smooth gutter. (Assume that the brick started to move from the state of rest.)

Workings:

I am unable to think on the first two but I think the displacement and time graph should be something like ,

View attachment 6144

Many Thanks :)
 

Attachments

  • Untitlesadd.png
    Untitlesadd.png
    4.4 KB · Views: 149
  • Untitlesadd.png
    Untitlesadd.png
    642 bytes · Views: 147
Mathematics news on Phys.org
To calculate the velocity of the brick at the bottom of the gutter, I would take the statement that the gutter is smooth to mean there is no friction, and so conservation of energy can be applied. When the brick is at the top of the gutter, it has gravitational potential energy, and since it begins from rest it has no kinetic energy. Then when the brick is at the bottom of the gutter it has kinetic energy, but no gravitational energy. The amount of energy stays the same, but it changes from potential energy to kinetic energy.

So, if we equate the initial potential energy to the final kinetic energy, we have:

$$mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

What do you get upon solving for $v$?
 
MarkFL said:
To calculate the velocity of the brick at the bottom of the gutter, I would take the statement that the gutter is smooth to mean there is no friction, and so conservation of energy can be applied. When the brick is at the top of the gutter, it has gravitational potential energy, and since it begins from rest it has no kinetic energy. Then when the brick is at the bottom of the gutter it has kinetic energy, but no gravitational energy. The amount of energy stays the same, but it changes from potential energy to kinetic energy.

So, if we equate the initial potential energy to the final kinetic energy, we have:

$$mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

What do you get upon solving for $v$?

Thank you very much MarkFL (Party)(Smile)

$$mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

$$2kg * 10 ms^-2 * 5 m=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

$$2kg * 10 ms^-2 * 5 m=\frac{1}{2}*2kg * v^2$$

$$2kg * 10 ms^-2 * 5 m=\frac{1}{2}*2kg * v^2$$

$$100 J= v^2$$

$$10 J= v$$

Correct ? :)
 
I would solve the equation first, and then plug in the numbers:

$$mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

$$v=\sqrt{2gh}$$

Okay, at this point we can plug in:

$$g\approx9.81\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2},\,h=5\text{ m}$$

$$v\approx\sqrt{2\left(9.81\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2}\right)\left(5\text{ m}\right)}=3\sqrt{\frac{109}{10}}\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}\approx9.9045\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}$$
 
MarkFL said:
I would solve the equation first, and then plug in the numbers:

$$mgh=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$$

$$v=\sqrt{2gh}$$

Okay, at this point we can plug in:

$$g\approx9.81\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2},\,h=5\text{ m}$$

$$v\approx\sqrt{2\left(9.81\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2}\right)\left(5\text{ m}\right)}=3\sqrt{\frac{109}{10}}\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}\approx9.9045\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}$$

Thank you very much :D

:D speaking about the graph

mathlearn said:
Sketch the displacement-time graph relevant to the movement of the brick along the smooth gutter. (Assume that the brick started to move from the state of rest.)

View attachment 6145

Is the above drawn graph correct?
 

Attachments

  • Untitlesadd.png
    Untitlesadd.png
    642 bytes · Views: 133
Last edited:
For the graph, you have the brick returning to its original position, since the ending value is zero. Also, the acceleration will be constant as it moves down the gutter, so what kind of curve should we use?
 
mathlearn said:
speaking about the graph

Is the above drawn graph correct?

Hey mathlearn! ;)

Here's what the acceleration and speed graphs would look like (using our new TikZ drawing capabilities :cool:):
\begin{tikzpicture}[ultra thick]
\draw[red] (0,5) node[above] {\Large $a$} -- (5,5) -- (5,0) -- (10,0);
\draw[blue] (0,0) node[above] {\Large $v$} -- (5,3) -- (10,3);
\end{tikzpicture}
On the inclined plane we have a constant acceleration, and when it ends, the acceleration becomes near zero.
As a result the speed increases linearly until the end of the slope, after which the speed remains constant (although in reality it would linearly decrease slowly until zero).
Note that $v=\int_0^t a\,dt$.

However, we're asked for the displacement, which we can call $d$.
We have that $d=\int_0^t v\,dt$.
What would the displacement graph look like? (Wondering)
 
mathlearn said:
$$100 J= v^2$$

$$10 J= v$$
Recheck your units, speed is not measured in J. (And the square root of a J is not J!)

-Dan
 
MarkFL said:
For the graph, you have the brick returning to its original position, since the ending value is zero. Also, the acceleration will be constant as it moves down the gutter, so what kind of curve should we use?

View attachment 6147

This kind of a curve :) with constant acceleration and with deceleration.

I like Serena said:
Hey mathlearn! ;)

Here's what the acceleration and speed graphs would look like (using our new TikZ drawing capabilities :cool:):
\begin{tikzpicture}[ultra thick]
\draw[red] (0,5) node[above] {\Large $a$} -- (5,5) -- (5,0) -- (10,0);
\draw[blue] (0,0) node[above] {\Large $v$} -- (5,3) -- (10,3);
\end{tikzpicture}
On the inclined plane we have a constant acceleration, and when it ends, the acceleration becomes near zero.
As a result the speed increases linearly until the end of the slope, after which the speed remains constant (although in reality it would linearly decrease slowly until zero).
Note that $v=\int_0^t a\,dt$.

However, we're asked for the displacement, which we can call $d$.
We have that $d=\int_0^t v\,dt$.
What would the displacement graph look like? (Wondering)

The displacement time graph would look like the above graph

topsquark said:
Recheck your units, speed is not measured in J. (And the square root of a J is not J!)

-Dan

Thanks for the catch :)
 

Attachments

  • displacement time graph.png
    displacement time graph.png
    998 bytes · Views: 124
Last edited:
  • #10
mathlearn said:
This kind of a curve :) with constant acceleration and with deceleration...

Why do you have the brick returning to zero displacement?
 
  • #11
MarkFL said:
Why do you have the brick returning to zero displacement?

:) Then is the graph without returning to zero displacement

View attachment 6148
 

Attachments

  • displacement time graph.png
    displacement time graph.png
    843 bytes · Views: 151
  • #12
mathlearn said:
:) Then is the graph without returning to zero displacement

For the record, you're assuming that the brick ends up in sand at the bottom of the slope, coming to an abrupt stand still.
The corresponding graphs then look like:
\begin{tikzpicture}[font=\LARGE]
\draw[thick, gray, ->] (0,0) -- (9,0) node
{$t$};
\draw[thick, gray, ->] (0,-6) -- (0,4.5);
\draw[ultra thick, red] (0,2) node
{$a$} -- (5,2) -- (5,-6) -- (6,-6) -- (6,0) -- (8,0);
\draw[ultra thick, blue] (0,0) -- (5,4) -- (6,0) -- (8,0) node[above] {$v$};
\draw[ultra thick, olive] (0,0) parabola (5,3) parabola bend (6,3.6) (6,3.6) -- (8,3.6) node
{$d$};
\end{tikzpicture}
(Just had to make the TikZ drawing. :cool:)​
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K