Energy and momentum - pendulums

  • Thread starter Thread starter FrenchAtticus
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Momentum
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a physics problem involving a heavy ball swinging in a circular arc, where key points of interest are the ball's speed and acceleration at the lowest point (P) and the highest points (Q and Q'). The conservation of energy principle is applied, equating potential energy at the highest points to kinetic energy at the lowest point. The equations established include mgh1 + 1/2mv1^2 = mgh2 + 1/2mv2^2, leading to a relationship between the velocities at points P and Q. The challenge arises from having two unknown velocities to solve for, prompting questions about the necessity of considering both speeds. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding energy conservation in analyzing the motion of the pendulum.
FrenchAtticus
Messages
10
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A heavy ball swings on a string in a circular arc of radius 1m.
The two highest points of the ball's trajectory are Q and Q'; at these points the string is +/- 20 degrees from the vertical. Point P is the lowest point of the ball's trajectory where the string hangs vertically down. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.

1.) What is the ball's speed at the point P? Neglect air resistance and other frictional forces.
2.) What is the magnitude of the ball's acceleration at the point P?
3.) What is the ball's speed at the point Q?
4.) What is the magnitude of the ball's acceleration at the point Q?

Homework Equations



mgh1 + 1/2mv1^2 = mgh2 + 1/2mv2^2

The Attempt at a Solution



9.8(1-cos(20)) + 1/2v1^2 = 0 + 1/2v2^2
0.591 + 1/2v1^2 = 1/2v2^2

How can I solve this with two unknowns?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Why do you think there are 2 velocities to consider?

PE at highest = KE at lowest

m*g*h = m*v2/2
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging 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...

Similar threads

Back
Top