Creating a Solar Model - Excel Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter PeteWheatstraw
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Excel Model Solar
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating values for columns I and J in a solar model using Excel. The user is experiencing issues with negative outputs when they expect values to approach 1. Suggestions include adding parentheses around the calculation of B3-B2 and questioning the necessity of the SUMPRODUCT function, which may not be needed for single cell calculations. The user expresses frustration with their lack of Excel knowledge and the professor's expectations. The conversation emphasizes troubleshooting Excel formulas to achieve correct results.
PeteWheatstraw
Messages
6
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



The problem given is...Calculate mI+1 and lI+1 at point xI+1 using equation (5), the values of the slopes at points xI+1 and xI from equation (4), and the values of mI and lI from the previous step.

Here is a screenshot of my solar model

solarmodel_zps169d03c0.png


Homework Equations



solarmodel2_zps8032b590.png

The Attempt at a Solution



I need help with columns I and J.

For column I, I have the equation entered as =SUMPRODUCT(I2+1/2*(G3+G2)*B3-B2)

For J I have =SUMPRODUCT(J2+1/2*(H3+H2)*B3-B2)

and for some reason I'm getting negative values when as it goes down it should be getting closer to 1

Thanks in advance!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You need parentheses around B3-B2.
(Why do you need to use sumproduct? You're not using entire arrays of numbers to calculatd a single cell, are you?)
 
haruspex said:
You need parentheses around B3-B2.
(Why do you need to use sumproduct? You're not using entire arrays of numbers to calculatd a single cell, are you?)

Thank you so much! I knew it was something obvious that would make me look stupid ;)

To your question...I'm not really sure. I'm excel illiterate and our professor expects us to use it without ever showing us anything.
 
PeteWheatstraw said:
To your question...I'm not really sure. I'm excel illiterate and our professor expects us to use it without ever showing us anything.

Try removing the SUMPRODUCT() wrapper. I don't think it's doing anything.
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top