Calculating Revolutions of a Ball Dropped from a Ramp

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the number of revolutions a ball makes when it rolls down a ramp and drops off a table. The user has provided specific parameters: a cylinder with mass 1.8 kg, radius 0.12 m, and length 0.50 m, along with a ramp height of 0.6 m and length of 5.0 m. The total kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp is calculated to be 10.59 J, with angular velocity (w) at 18.08314 rad/s and linear velocity (v) at 2.1699768 m/s. The user seeks clarification on how to determine the number of revolutions made during the fall after confirming that no external torques act on the ball.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of rotational dynamics and moment of inertia
  • Familiarity with the concepts of kinetic energy and energy conservation
  • Knowledge of angular velocity and linear velocity relationships
  • Basic principles of projectile motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate the number of revolutions using the formula: revolutions = distance traveled / circumference
  • Review the moment of inertia calculation for a solid cylinder
  • Explore the relationship between linear and angular velocity in rolling motion
  • Investigate the effects of external forces on rolling objects in free fall
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of rolling motion and projectile motion calculations.

smilingsteph
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
If I have a ball/sphere is released from rest, rolls (without slipping) down a ramp, then drops from the table the ramp is on, how many revolutions does the ball make during the fall?

The diameter of the ball, height of the ramp, and height of the table are known. And I calculated the horizontal distance the ball travels before landing correctly. I think I calculated the w, v, and centripetal acceleration correctly. But I am not sure how to solve for the number of revolutions the ball makes before falling on the ground. This problem is probably relatively simple, but I might be having issues with it from looking at it for so long and confusing myself. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
smilingsteph said:
If I have a ball/sphere is released from rest, rolls (without slipping) down a ramp, then drops from the table the ramp is on, how many revolutions does the ball make during the fall?

The diameter of the ball, height of the ramp, and height of the table are known. And I calculated the horizontal distance the ball travels before landing correctly. I think I calculated the w, v, and centripetal acceleration correctly. But I am not sure how to solve for the number of revolutions the ball makes before falling on the ground. This problem is probably relatively simple, but I might be having issues with it from looking at it for so long and confusing myself. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Once the ball has left the ramp, are there any external torques acting on the ball?
 
to my knowledge no.

cylinder:
m= 1.8kg
r= 0.12m
l= 0.50m

ramp:
h= 0.6m
l= 5.0m

"A cylinder is released from rest at the top of a ramp and allowed to roll without slipping. What is the rotational kinetic energy?"

I already correctly solved that the total kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp is 10.59J.
 
smilingsteph said:
to my knowledge no.

cylinder:
m= 1.8kg
r= 0.12m
l= 0.50m

ramp:
h= 0.6m
l= 5.0m

"A cylinder is released from rest at the top of a ramp and allowed to roll without slipping. What is the rotational kinetic energy?"

I already correctly solved that the total kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp is 10.59J.
You are indeed correct, if we ignore drag then the only force acting on the sphere is it's weight, which acts through it's centre. So if the net torque is zero after the ball has left the ramp, what can you say about the angular velocity?
 
w=18.08314 and I=0.03888 and v=2.1699768.

i keep getting that the rotational kinetic energy is ~4.23, but it keeps coming up as incorrect. are any of my preliminary calculations incorrect? but i'd have know correctly, w, v, and I to solve for the distance (which i know is correct). so I'm not sure what I am doing wrong after i solve for w, I, and v.
 
smilingsteph said:
w=18.08314 and I=0.03888 and v=2.1699768.

i keep getting that the rotational kinetic energy is ~4.23, but it keeps coming up as incorrect. are any of my preliminary calculations incorrect? but i'd have know correctly, w, v, and I to solve for the distance (which i know is correct). so I'm not sure what I am doing wrong after i solve for w, I, and v.
You may want to recheck your moment of inertia calculation.
 
so i rechecked my calculations and still get the moment of inertia. how do i go from there though to solve for the number of rotations in the fall?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K