Force to raise a cylinder over an edge

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a cylinder with a mass of 200 kg and a radius of 0.8 m attempting to climb over a 0.3 m high edge. The original poster seeks to determine the force required to achieve this, including the minimum force necessary, which has led to some confusion regarding the problem statement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of forces and moments, with some suggesting that the minimum force may depend on the angle of application. Others question the clarity of the problem statement, particularly regarding the two different force values presented.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem, with participants providing various interpretations and calculations. Some have suggested that the geometry of the force application may affect the required force, while others have pointed out potential misunderstandings in the approach to the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may be poorly written, leading to confusion about the minimum force required and the conditions under which it is calculated. There are also indications that assumptions about the point of force application and angle adjustments are being debated.

Karol
Messages
1,380
Reaction score
22

Homework Statement


The cylinder with mass 200[kg] and radius 0.8[m] tries to climb a 0.3[m] high edge with a force F exerted at an angle of 300. what's the force and what's the minimum force for the cylinder to climb

Homework Equations


Moments: F1L1=F2L2

The Attempt at a Solution


The weight balances the the force, i made moments around the edge and got a true answer F=1670[N], but i don't understand the second question, about the minimum force, and it's about 766[N]
 

Attachments

  • Snap1.jpg
    Snap1.jpg
    10 KB · Views: 490
Physics news on Phys.org
"Minimal force" might mean the force needed if the angle can be adjusted. But then the two values should not be so different. Maybe you can adjust the point where it acts on as well. If that is the full problem statement and 766 N is the given answer, it is poorly written.
 
mfb said:
"Minimal force" might mean the force needed if the angle can be adjusted. But then the two values should not be so different. Maybe you can adjust the point where it acts on as well. If that is the full problem statement and 766 N is the given answer, it is poorly written.
To get an answer so much lower, it must be allowed to apply the force further from the step.
 
mfb said:
Maybe you can adjust the point where it acts on as well.

haruspex said:
To get an answer so much lower, it must be allowed to apply the force further from the step.
Ah! Yes. That's how you can get about 766 N. o0)
 
Last edited:
Hi Karol.

I consider that the ball pivots about point of contact (O). So the CoM of the ball will perform circular motion about point O.

Now - work energy theorem states that 'Work done by all the forces on the system is equal to the change in the kinetic energy'.
As the required force is minimum so the ball the velocity of the CoM of the ball at the final position (i.e when the CoM is just above the point O) should be zero.

Now there are three force acting on the ball -- gravity, F and Normal force (N). Work done by N is zero.

Work done by F=work done by mg...(1)

Work done by mg can be find easily.
BALL.png


The black curve shows the trajectory of the CoM. Angle ##\phi## can be found easily. Let the Com be at any arbitrary position such that it has rotated by angle ##\theta## about O.

Work done by F is ##\int _{ 0 }^{ (90-\phi ) }{ FRcos(30-(\theta +\phi ))d\theta } ##.

Just put the value in eq. (1). I think you will get the answers.:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Work is either torque times angular displacement of force times displacement and in both ways i get an other equation than: ##\int _{ 0 }^{ (90-\phi ) }{ FRcos(\theta +\phi )d\theta }##
According to the new drawing, for the initial position: α=90-(30+Φ) so W=FR cos[90-(30+Φ)]
Of course we add θ for an arbitrary position and take an integral at the same boundaries
 

Attachments

  • Snap1.jpg
    Snap1.jpg
    9.6 KB · Views: 487
Last edited:
Karol said:
Work is either torque times angular displacement of force times displacement and in both ways i get an other equation than: ##\int _{ 0 }^{ (90-\phi ) }{ FRcos(\theta +\phi )d\theta }##
According to the new drawing, for the initial position: α=90-(30+Φ) so W=FR cos[90-(30+Φ)]
Of course we add θ for an arbitrary position and take an integral at the same boundaries

I made a mistake in #post 5.
The work done by F is ##\int _{ 0 }^{ (90-\phi ) }{ FRcos((\theta +\phi)-60 )d\theta }##

BALL.png


If you consider the AO as the initial condition and BO as the final condition you will find that initially ##\theta=0## and final ##\theta=90-\phi##.

What would you get after evaluating the integral?
 
@Satvik Pandey: That does not work. What you calculate would be the average force needed, but the force depends on the angle, so you underestimate the force needed to start the lifting process.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Satvik Pandey
The geometry i have drawn is to scale, the force is above the tangent, at the initial position A and further, not like you drew, so the integral is:
$$W=\int_0^{51.32} F\cdot 0.8 \cdot \cos (60-\phi)d\phi=-0.8F\cdot\sin(60-\phi)\vert^{51.32}_0=-0.8F(\sin 8.68-\sin 60)=0.57F$$
The gain in potential energy equals W: ##0.57F=2000[N]\cdot 0.3[m]\rightarrow F=1053##
But that is only theoretical since it's smaller than the force needed to lift it at the beginning
 
  • #10
Karol said:
The geometry i have drawn is to scale, the force is above the tangent, at the initial position A and further, not like you drew, so the integral is:
$$W=\int_0^{51.32} F\cdot 0.8 \cdot \cos (60-\phi)d\phi=-0.8F\cdot\sin(60-\phi)\vert^{51.32}_0=-0.8F(\sin 8.68-\sin 60)=0.57F$$
The gain in potential energy equals W: ##0.57F=2000[N]\cdot 0.3[m]\rightarrow F=1053##
But that is only theoretical since it's smaller than the force needed to lift it at the beginning
As mfb has pointed out, it is not only unnecessary to consider energy or perform integrals to answer this question, it will give the wrong answer.
All you have to do is figure out where and at what angle to apply the force to get the cylinder moving. Beyond that, you could consider whether a larger force may be required at some later point in lifting it over the step (if the direction and point of application are not allowed to change?).
 
  • #11
mfb said:
@Satvik Pandey: That does not work. What you calculate would be the average force needed, but the force depends on the angle, so you underestimate the force needed to start the lifting process.

Thank you mfb for pointing it. Sorry Karol, I lead you on the wrong path.:s
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K