Calculating Kinetic Energy of a Rotational System with a Hanging Weight

  • Thread starter Thread starter CaptainSFS
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Rotational System
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the kinetic energy of a system consisting of a 15 kg disk and a 5 kg hanging weight. The user initially miscalculates the rotational inertia of the disk, using the incorrect formula for a uniform disk. The correct formula for the moment of inertia should include a factor of 1/2, which leads to an accurate calculation of the kinetic energy. After correcting this error, the user is able to find the total kinetic energy of the system. The conversation emphasizes the importance of using the correct equations for different shapes in physics problems.
CaptainSFS
Messages
57
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A 15 kg uniform disk of radius R = 0.25 m has a string wrapped around it, and a m = 5 kg weight is hanging on the string. The system of the weight and disk is released from rest.

a) When the 5 kg weight is moving with a speed of 1.7 m/s, what is the kinetic energy of the entire system?

Homework Equations



v=\omegaR

I=\Sigma(m)(r)2

KE=(.5)(I)(\omega)2

KEtotal = KEwheel + KEweight

The Attempt at a Solution



KE(wheel) = (.5)((15)(.25)2)((1.7)/(.25))2 = 21.675

+

KE(weight) = (.5)(5)(1.7)2 = 7.225

= 28.9 [This answer is incorrect though, I'm unsure as to what I'm doing incorrectly.]

Any help is much appreciated, thanks! :)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi CaptainSFS,

CaptainSFS said:

Homework Statement



A 15 kg uniform disk of radius R = 0.25 m has a string wrapped around it, and a m = 5 kg weight is hanging on the string. The system of the weight and disk is released from rest.

a) When the 5 kg weight is moving with a speed of 1.7 m/s, what is the kinetic energy of the entire system?

Homework Equations



v=\omegaR

I=\Sigma(m)(r)2

KE=(.5)(I)(\omega)2

KEtotal = KEwheel + KEweight

The Attempt at a Solution



KE(wheel) = (.5)((15)(.25)2)((1.7)/(.25))2 = 21.675

This line is incorrect. It is saying that the rotational inertia I for this uniform disk is mr2, which is not true. There should be a table in your book that gives the formula for I for different shapes.
 
Thanks, :P. It needed that constant for a disk (1/2). Thanks for your help. :)
 
Glad to help!
 
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Back
Top