Calculating Total Acceleration of Cylinder, Object A & Object B

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the total acceleration of a cylinder and two objects connected via a pulley system. The problem involves understanding the relationships between linear and rotational accelerations, particularly in the context of friction and motion without slipping.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Exploratory

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the linear acceleration of object A and object B, questioning how these accelerations differ and relate to the cylinder's motion. There is discussion about the implications of slipping versus non-slipping conditions on acceleration and frictional forces.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the concepts, clarifying the relationships between different types of acceleration and the effects of friction. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conditions for rolling without slipping, and there is an ongoing exploration of the implications of these conditions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the definitions and implications of linear and rotational accelerations, as well as the role of friction in different motion scenarios. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity of these relationships, particularly in the context of homework constraints.

Josh93
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Homework Statement


Untitled.jpg
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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)
[tex]\sum torque=(line tension2 . radius) - (frictionalforce . radius) = m.a[/tex]
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.
 
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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.
 

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