Estimating Distance Travelled by Inclined Pendulum Homework

  • Thread starter Thread starter captainjack2000
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Inclined Pendulum
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on estimating the distance a train travels before coming to a stop while a pendulum inclined at 10 degrees to the vertical is observed. The passenger uses the equations of motion and the components of tension in the pendulum to derive the stopping distance. The calculation yields a distance of approximately 260.415 meters, which is deemed reasonable for a train's stopping distance. The methodology involving the relationship between acceleration and gravitational force is confirmed as correct.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent)
  • Knowledge of pendulum mechanics
  • Basic algebra for rearranging equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of forces in inclined planes
  • Learn about the dynamics of pendulums and their applications
  • Explore advanced kinematics equations for motion analysis
  • Investigate real-world train braking systems and their stopping distances
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, engineers involved in transportation design, and anyone interested in the mechanics of motion and forces acting on objects.

captainjack2000
Messages
96
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A train is traveling at 30m/s and decelerates and stops. During this process a passenger notices that a penduum is inclined by 10 degrees to the vertical. Estimate how far the train travels before coming to rest


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I have drawn a diagram of the pendulum hanging from a string with tension T at an incline of 10 degrees to the vertical. The tension will have two components
Ty=Tcos(10)=mg and
Tx=Tsin(10)=ma
Tx will be the net horizontal force on the pendulum

rearranging I got tan(10)=a/g

then using v^2=u^2+2as
s=(v^2-u^2)/2a
=(0-30^2)/2gtan(10)=260.415m which seems a big too large
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I haven't checked your numbers, but your method looks fine. (And 260m doesn't seem like too large a stopping distance for a TRAIN to me:smile:)
 

Similar threads

How Far is the Pendulum from the Axis on a Rotating Platform?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Simulating a Rotary Inverted Pendulum in Python
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Finding the distance of a peg so that a pendulum can circle around it
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Foucault Pendulum at the North Pole
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Pendulum in a freely moving box
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
What distance will be covered before coming to stop?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
1K
Motion on a rough inclined plane
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
What Happens to a Pendulum's Period at 90 Degrees Inclination?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
Inelastic collision with an inclined plane
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Dynamics and Circular Motion Problem
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K