Explaining Why Sand Loses Contact with Cone During Oscillation

  • Thread starter Thread starter mystreet123
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Oscillation Shm
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of sand particles on a cone undergoing vertical oscillation. The original poster seeks to understand why the sand loses contact with the cone at a certain amplitude of oscillation, considering the forces acting on the sand.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between weight, contact force, and the forces acting on the sand particles during oscillation. There is confusion regarding the sign convention used in the equations and the conditions under which contact is lost.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively questioning the assumptions and definitions related to the forces involved. Some have provided diagrams to illustrate their understanding, while others are seeking clarification on the mathematical relationships. There is a productive exchange of ideas, but no consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of missing information, such as the specific diagram referenced and the exact conditions under which the contact force becomes zero. Participants are also navigating the complexities of sign conventions in their equations.

mystreet123
Messages
15
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Some sand is sprinkled onto the cone. The sand oscillates vertically with the frequency of the cone. The amplitude of oscillation of the cone is increased.
At a particular amplitude of oscillation the sand begins to lose contact with the cone.
By considering the forces acting on a grain of sand, explain why this happens.

Homework Equations


From mark scheme it says "Weight - contact force = m(w^2)x So as x increases, contact force decreases, sand loses contact with cone when contact force = 0"

But I don't understand why it is m(w^2)x, not -m(w^2)x? as I thought they take upward as negative and losing contact only happens at maximum upward displacement position.

The Attempt at a Solution

 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
mystreet123 said:
From mark scheme it says "Weight - contact force = m(w^2)x So as x increases, contact force decreases, sand loses contact with cone when contact force = 0"

But I don't understand why it is m(w^2)x, not -m(w^2)x? as I thought they take upward as negative and losing contact only happens at maximum upward displacement position.

pl. make out a diagram of oscillations and then mark out the forces acting on sand particle ;perhaps then you can gigure out the contact forces and required centrepetal/centrifugal force .
 
drvrm said:
pl. make out a diagram of oscillations and then mark out the forces acting on sand particle ;perhaps then you can gigure out the contact forces and required centrepetal/centrifugal force .
Yes I did!
 
mystreet123 said:
Yes I did!
then show it as attachment so that we can get to your problem
 
drvrm said:
then show it as attachment so that we can get to your problem
_k8xiwHxV0bG9Qm2Ts8oD_m3dnq_2E2pyOJ2Xu78HfRZMMWe_zcAIIcCDmaJA?width=660&height=326&cropmode=none.jpg
 
Last edited:
@mystreet123
well the attachment fails to open -perhaps a template will be better so that it can easily open.
 
drvrm said:
@mystreet123
well the attachment fails to open -perhaps a template will be better so that it can easily open.
Can you open it now?
 
mystreet123 said:
Can you open it now?

yes, thanks
 
at some amplitude of oscillations of the cone the sand particles leaves the contact with surface

mystreet123 said:
At a particular amplitude of oscillation the sand begins to lose contact with the cone.

mystreet123 said:
From mark scheme it says "Weight - contact force = m(w^2)x S

suppose N is the contact force so N= mg - mw^2.x at any displacement x so when contact force is zero the wt will be balanced by the term on the right hand ;
as i feel mg is down ward so mw^2 .x shoukd be upward.

or think in terms of F(harmonic osc.) = F(Weight) -N
what is wrong in the above picture of forces?
 
  • #10
drvrm said:
at some amplitude of oscillations of the cone the sand particles leaves the contact with surfacesuppose N is the contact force so N= mg - mw^2.x at any displacement x so when contact force is zero the wt will be balanced by the term on the right hand ;
as i feel mg is down ward so mw^2 .x shoukd be upward.
what is wrong in the above picture of forces?
But why I found N-mg = mw^2.x at highest position? if we take upward positive

Because when I use this formula, as x increases, N also increases, instead of becoming zero
 
  • #11
mystreet123 said:
mw^2.x at highest position?

in a harmonic oscillation the force which is always a restoring force acts opposite to the displacement

F(osc)= -constantx displacement
if displacement is +ve - force will be negative and just vice-versa
if displacement from mean position is negative then force will be in opposite direction.
will this clarify your picture?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: mystreet123
  • #12
drvrm said:
in a harmonic oscillation the force which is always a restoring force acts opposite to the displacement

F(osc)= -constantx displacement
if displacement is +ve - force will be negative and just vice-versa
if displacement from mean position is negative then force will be in opposite direction.
will this clarify your picture?
Yes understood thanks!
 
  • #13
mystreet123 said:
Yes understood thanks!

in physics forum if you give thanks then just like the post
we do not write explicitly
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
26
Views
3K
Replies
52
Views
6K
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K