Calculating Total Acceleration of Cylinder, Object A & Object B

  • Thread starter Thread starter Josh93
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Acceleration
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the total acceleration of a cylinder and two objects connected by a pulley system, all with equal mass. It clarifies that the acceleration of object A consists of both its linear and tangential components, with object B's acceleration being related to the rope's acceleration, which is influenced by A's motion. The conversation emphasizes the relationship between linear and rotational acceleration, particularly under the condition of rolling without slipping, where the equation a = alpha * r applies. Additionally, it addresses how friction behaves differently in scenarios of slipping versus non-slipping motion. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for accurately determining the system's overall acceleration.
Josh93
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Untitled.jpg
,
the pulley, object a and object b all have the same mass
The cylinder rotates without sliding
He asked for the cylinder's acceleration in m(mass),g(gravitation), r(radius) variables

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


Okay, so my teacher said that the frictional force oppose the line tension,
Object 1(cylinder)
\sum torque=(line tension2 . radius) - (frictionalforce . radius) = m.a
Pulley
(line tension1-linetension2)xradius=1/2mr2
Object B
Line tension1 - weight = m . a
what I don't get is why my teacher said that object a's acceleration is the total of its tangential acceleration and its linear acceleration.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Josh93 said:
what I don't get is why my teacher said that object a's acceleration is the total of its tangential acceleration and its linear acceleration.
You need to relate the linear acceleration of object A to the linear acceleration of object B. (They are not the same, so be sure to use different symbols for those accelerations.) Note that the acceleration of B will equal the acceleration of the connecting rope that is wound around the cylinder, which can be found by combining the linear and tangential acceleration of object A.
 
Doc Al said:
You need to relate the linear acceleration of object A to the linear acceleration of object B. (They are not the same, so be sure to use different symbols for those accelerations.) Note that the acceleration of B will equal the acceleration of the connecting rope that is wound around the cylinder, which can be found by combining the linear and tangential acceleration of object A.

Okay, so object b's acceleration is the same as the rope around the pulley's acceleration which is the total of the object a's tangential and linear acceleration? What about object a's acceleration? Is it just its own linear acceleration?
 
Josh93 said:
What about object a's acceleration? Is it just its own linear acceleration?
Sure. (At least that's the acceleration of its center of mass.) Hint: What's the relationship between A's linear and rotational acceleration?
 
Doc Al said:
Sure. (At least that's the acceleration of its center of mass.) Hint: What's the relationship between A's linear and rotational acceleration?
Well, A rotates without slipping so I guess its rotational and linear acceleration are the same. So that's why B's acceleration is 2 times A's linear acceleration(Because A rotates without slipping) and A's acceleration is just the same as its linear acceleration. Is that correct?
 
Josh93 said:
Well, A rotates without slipping so I guess its rotational and linear acceleration are the same. So that's why B's acceleration is 2 times A's linear acceleration(Because A rotates without slipping) and A's acceleration is just the same as its linear acceleration. Is that correct?
Yes, that's it. Instead of saying the rotational and linear accelerations are the same, which can't be true (they have different units, for one thing!), you can state their relationship as: a = alpha*r. (Which is the condition for rolling without slipping.) But you have the right idea.
 
Doc Al said:
Yes, that's it. Instead of saying the rotational and linear accelerations are the same, which can't be true (they have different units, for one thing!), you can state their relationship as: a = alpha*r. (Which is the condition for rolling without slipping.) But you have the right idea.
Two more questions, if A rotates with slipping, does that mean that its tangential acceleration and its linear acceleration is different? And if an object rotates with slipping does that mean that the frictional force oppose the direction it's moving in and if an object rotates without slipping it's frictional force is in the same direction as the object?
Btw, thanks for you answers, you've been a great help
 
Josh93 said:
Two more questions, if A rotates with slipping, does that mean that its tangential acceleration and its linear acceleration is different?
If an object rolls without slipping, then the linear acceleration a = alpha*r; if there is slipping, then that's not true.
And if an object rotates with slipping does that mean that the frictional force oppose the direction it's moving in and if an object rotates without slipping it's frictional force is in the same direction as the object?
Friction always opposes slipping between surfaces. To know which way the friction points, you have to know which way the surfaces are tending to slip. (Sometimes it's not obvious.) For example: Consider a car's tires. When you are skidding to a stop (and thus slipping against the ground), the friction opposes your motion; but when you slam on the accelerator and the tires spin, the friction acts in the direction of your motion.
 
Back
Top