Calculating the acceleration and kinetic energy of a bucket in a pulley system

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a pulley system with a wooden cylinder and a bucket filled with water. The original poster seeks to calculate the acceleration of the bucket when the handle breaks and the kinetic energy after falling a certain distance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of acceleration, with some questioning the initial approach and suggesting the need to consider inertia and torque. There are attempts to derive equations involving tension and torque acting on the pulley. The second part of the problem regarding kinetic energy is also questioned for correctness.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing hints and guidance on incorporating torque into the calculations. There is an acknowledgment of the need to revisit the acceleration calculation, and some participants express confusion about applying torque, indicating a collaborative effort to clarify the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of rotational dynamics and the effects of torque on the system, with some constraints noted regarding the assumptions made about friction and the setup of the problem.

mmoadi
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Homework Statement



A well pulley is constructed from wooden cylinder with a mass of 5 kg and a radius of 10 cm and a light handle. The bucket filled with water is hanging on the rope coiled to the cylinder has a mass of 7 kg.
- With how much acceleration does the bucket move if the handle breaks; the pulley is spinning with no friction?
- How much is the kinetic energy of the bucket after it falls for 1 m?

Homework Equations



F=ma
KE= mv²/2
PE= mgh

The Attempt at a Solution



First part: With how much acceleration does the bucket move if the handle breaks; the pulley is spinning with no friction?

m(1)= 5 kg, m(2)= 7 kg, g= 10 m/s²

(m(1) + m(2))*a= m(2)g
a= m(2)g / (m(1) + m(2)
a= 5.8 m/s²

ARE MY CALCULATIONS CORRECT?

Second part: How much is the kinetic energy of the bucket after it falls for 1 m?

KE= PE
mv²/2= mgh
v= sqrt(2gh)
v= 4.47 m/s

KE= mv²/2= 69.9 J

Are my calculations correct?

Thank you helping!
 
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The equation for acceleration is wrong. Check it.
 
Do I have to take into the consideration inertia and the torque of the pulley (I know the radius and the mass of the pulley) and develop it from there?:confused:

What about the second part? Is it correct?

Thank you for helping!
 
Last edited:
There is torque acting on the cylinder because of the tension in the rope.
 
Please, can you give a hint how to apply the torque into the calculations? I'm really confused!?

I tried it like this:

For the bucket:[/color]
m(1)a= m(1)g - T

For the pulley:[/color]
Iα= Tr

I= 1/2m(2)r² and α= a/r

1/2m(2)r²*a/r = Tr → 1/2m(2)r= T

For the system:[/color]
1/2m(2)a + m(1)a = m(1)g -T + T
a= m(1)g / (m(1) + 1/2m(2))
a= 7 m/s²[/color]

I really need help with solving this problem. Thank you for helping!
 
Yes.

Now for the second part you just replace g with your new a.
 
:biggrin: Thank you very much!:biggrin:

So the correct answer is: 49 J[/color]
 

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