Final angular velocity of dropped yoyo

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a yo-yo's rotational dynamics as it is thrown downward with an initial velocity. Participants discuss the calculation of the yo-yo's final angular velocity when it reaches the end of the string, utilizing concepts of conservation of energy and rotational kinetic energy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the application of conservation of energy to relate translational and rotational kinetic energy. There are discussions about the correct inclusion of initial rotational energy and the rotational inertia of the yo-yo.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the importance of including all relevant energy terms in the calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of the calculations, with one participant expressing confusion over discrepancies in their results compared to the expected answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the pressure of an upcoming exam, indicating a time constraint that may affect their problem-solving process. There is also a reference to a specific textbook example, which may influence their understanding of the problem setup.

clementc
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Homework Statement


Hey guys,
I just read Physics, by Halliday, Resnick and Krane. There's a chapter on rotational dynamics, and the example goes like this:
A yo-yo of total mass M = 0.24kg consists of two disks of radius R = 2.8cm connected by a thin shaft of radius R0 = 0.25cm. A string of length L = 1.2m is wrapped around the shaft. If the yo-yo is thrown downward with an initial velocity of v0 = 1.4m/s, what is its rotational velocity when it reaches the end of the string?

Homework Equations


KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2
Rotational KE = \frac{1}{2} I{\omega}^2
I of a cylinder = \frac{1}{2} mr^2
Conservation of energy

The Attempt at a Solution


The way the book did it was really strange and long, so I tried doing it using conservation of energy, but got the wrong answer. Can anyone see what's wrong here?
[PLAIN]http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6251/rotational.png
Their answer was 610 rad/s, but I really don't know where I went wrong here. Any help would be very greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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You forgot to add the initial rotational energy when you summed up for the initial kinetic energy.

The rotational inertia of the disk(s) is I = (1/2)MR2, and the rotational energy is KEr = (1/2) I ω2. So there's two factors of 1/2 in there.
 
Oh oops yeah forgot about the initial rotational KE
And sorry my working was a bit unclear - i actually multiplied across all terms by 2 so one of those factors of 1/2 disappeared

This is my new working, but its still giving me a different answer of 433 rad/s =(
Sorry about this, but could you please please look through this new working? i really can't find anything wrong with it but the answers 610 rad/s
Thank you very very much. its just been nagging me all day and i have a really really big exam coming up on saturday. thanks a lot

[PLAIN]http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/3142/rotation2.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You're still missing a (1/2) on the rotational energy term on the RHS. This is before you multiplied through by 2.
 
OH OF COURSE! thank you so so much sir =DD thank you thank you thank you!
im such an idiot ==; i treated the two disc separately at first and forgot that the mass in 1/2mr^2 was the mass of the entire yoyo.
the answer did indeed come out to 610 rad/s =) thanks so much!
 

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