Dropping Beads and their velocity?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a rope with beads dropped from a height, where the spacing between the beads increases from bottom to top. The original poster is curious about why the beads sound like they hit the ground at equal time intervals and how to determine the correct spacing of the beads.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster suggests that the problem may be more about perception than mathematics, questioning how the velocity of the beads affects their timing upon impact. Another participant proposes using equations of motion to analyze the timing of the beads hitting the ground, indicating a mathematical approach to the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring both conceptual and mathematical aspects of the problem. Some participants are questioning the assumptions about the sound intervals and the role of equations in solving the problem, while others are providing definitions and clarifications about relevant equations.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the need for equations, indicating that some participants believe a mathematical approach is necessary to address the problem effectively. The original poster's perspective on the problem being a sense issue rather than a mathematical one introduces a potential conflict in understanding the problem's nature.

Olive1923
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Homework Statement


A straight rope is dropped at a height where is it not touching the ground. The rope has 10 beads spaced out on it and tied so they do not move. From the bottom to the top, the space between the beads increase, where the distance is the smallest at the bottom and largest at the top. When the rope is dropped, the beads sound like they are hitting the ground at equal time intervals. Why does it sound like this and how would you find the correct distance space out the beads?

Homework Equations


I think this is a sense problem not a math problem, so no equations needed.

The Attempt at a Solution


I think for finding the distance, you have to space it out enough so that the velocity of the top bead has enough time to increase to match the speed of the bead below it. I am just not sure about my thoughts?
 
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Equations are required..

If the time taken for the first bead to hit the ground is ## t_1 ## then the time taken for the nth bead to hit the ground is ## t_n = nt_1
##
From there we can form an expression using SUVAT equation/s for the distance between any two beads ## t_n ## and ##t_{n+1}##
 
Olive1923 said:
@billy_joule What are SUVAT equations?
Equations of motion. The acronym is from some conventional variable names, S for displacement, U for initial velocity, V for final velocity, A for acceleration and T for time. Under an assumption of constant acceleration, there are "SUVAT" equations that allow each variable to be found in terms of the others. Google is your friend.
 

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