Help in understanding a question about a pebble and a wheel and friction....

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a wheel of radius R rolling with a velocity V, on which a pebble is released at rest. The task is to determine the conditions under which the pebble begins to slide off the wheel as it rotates through a specified angle, given certain parameters related to friction and gravitational acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the meaning of "sliding" in the context of the problem, specifically whether it implies the pebble will fly off the wheel or if its acceleration becomes zero. There are requests for visual aids to better understand the scenario.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the initial conditions of the pebble on the wheel and its motion as the wheel rotates. Some guidance has been provided regarding the motion of the pebble and the suggestion to draw a free-body diagram to aid understanding. There is an ongoing exploration of whether the pebble remains in contact with the wheel during sliding.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted absence of visual aids in the original problem statement, which some participants feel hinders their ability to assist effectively.

Buffu
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Homework Statement



A wheel of radius R rolls along the ground with velocity V. A pebble is carefully released on top of the wheel so that it is instaneously at the rest on the wheel. Show that in the case ##V < \sqrt{Rg}## and the coefficient of friction is ##\mu = 1## the pebble starts to slide when it is rotated through an angle given by ##\theta = \arccos (1/\sqrt{2}(V^2/Rg)) - \pi/4##

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



I would attempt at the solution if only I understand what its by "sliding" in the question ? Does it mean that the pebble will fly off the wheel ? or its accelaration is zero ?
 
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Buffu said:

Homework Statement



A wheel of radius R rolls along the ground with velocity V. A pebble is carefully released on top of the wheel so that it is instaneously at the rest on the wheel. Show that in the case ##V < \sqrt{Rg}## and the coefficient of friction is ##\mu = 1## the pebble starts to slide when it is rotated through an angle given by ##\theta = \arccos (1/\sqrt{2}(V^2/Rg)) - \pi/4##

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



I would attempt at the solution if only I understand what its by "sliding" in the question ? Does it mean that the pebble will fly off the wheel ? or its accelaration is zero ?
Can you post a picture of the problem? It's kind of hard to help when I can't visualize the situation. Thanks.
 
berkeman said:
Can you post a picture of the problem? It's kind of hard to help when I can't visualize the situation. Thanks.
There was no picture in the book.
 
Buffu said:
There was no picture in the book.
upload_2017-5-21_6-40-27.png

Initially, the pebble stays in rest on the wheel moving together with the rim. When the wheel turns by angle theta, then the pebble starts to slide on the surface downward. Draw the free-body diagram.
 
ehild said:
View attachment 203898
Initially, the pebble stays in rest on the wheel moving together with the rim. When the wheel turns by angle theta, then the pebble starts to slide on the surface downward. Draw the free-body diagram.

When it slide is it still on contact with the surface ?
 
Buffu said:
When it slide is it still on contact with the surface ?
Yes.
 

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