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tzhu
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I tried to do this pendulum problem with force analysis, but I kept getting a wrong answer. Eventually I figured it out using torque, but I still have no clue why I was getting a wrong answer when I try to use f=ma. Any help appreciated!
A conical pendulum, a thin uniform rod of length l and mass m, rotates uniformly about a vertical axis with angular velocity [tex]\omega[/tex] (the upper end of the rod is hinged). Find the angle [tex]\theta[/tex] between the rod and the vertical.
Here's my original attempt:
From vertical equilibrium, we have
[tex]F\cos{\theta}=mg[/tex]
From the centripetal force, looking at each mass dm, we have
[tex]dF\sin{\theta}=\omega^2 x \sin{\theta} dm[/tex], or
[tex]dF=\omega^2 x (\frac{m}{l}) dx[/tex]
Integrating from zero to [tex]l[/tex],
[tex]F=\frac{1}{2} \omega^2 lm[/tex]
equating with the F in the first equation, I got
[tex]\cos{\theta}=\frac{2g}{\omega^2 l}[/tex], which is wrong.
But I can get the right answer when I solve it with equilibrium/torque analysis in the rotating frame, which turns out to be [tex]\frac{3g}{2 \omega^2 l}[/tex]
Can anyone point out what is wrong with my solution? It's been bothering me forever!
Homework Statement
A conical pendulum, a thin uniform rod of length l and mass m, rotates uniformly about a vertical axis with angular velocity [tex]\omega[/tex] (the upper end of the rod is hinged). Find the angle [tex]\theta[/tex] between the rod and the vertical.
The Attempt at a Solution
Here's my original attempt:
From vertical equilibrium, we have
[tex]F\cos{\theta}=mg[/tex]
From the centripetal force, looking at each mass dm, we have
[tex]dF\sin{\theta}=\omega^2 x \sin{\theta} dm[/tex], or
[tex]dF=\omega^2 x (\frac{m}{l}) dx[/tex]
Integrating from zero to [tex]l[/tex],
[tex]F=\frac{1}{2} \omega^2 lm[/tex]
equating with the F in the first equation, I got
[tex]\cos{\theta}=\frac{2g}{\omega^2 l}[/tex], which is wrong.
But I can get the right answer when I solve it with equilibrium/torque analysis in the rotating frame, which turns out to be [tex]\frac{3g}{2 \omega^2 l}[/tex]
Can anyone point out what is wrong with my solution? It's been bothering me forever!
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