How Can We Solve These Challenging Physics Problems?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving several challenging physics problems related to motion, acceleration, and kinematics. The problems include scenarios involving elevators, a flywheel, an automobile on an incline, and two approaching cars. Participants seek assistance in formulating and solving these problems, which encompass theoretical and mathematical reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines multiple physics problems, including the motion of elevators with different accelerations and the need to determine when and where they will meet.
  • Another participant suggests establishing an origin at the base of the elevator shafts to solve the elevator problem, proposing to use relative position, velocity, and acceleration.
  • For the problem involving a body moving with acceleration proportional to velocity, a participant recommends using kinematic equations and suggests forming a differential equation.
  • In discussing the flywheel problem, a participant advises using kinematic equations for rotational motion to find the number of revolutions.
  • For the automobile problem, one participant hints at the conservation of energy and suggests using a free body diagram to analyze the forces acting on the car.
  • In the scenario with two cars approaching each other, a participant recommends applying a similar approach as in the elevator problem to find when and where they will meet.
  • Several participants express confusion regarding the concept of setting an origin for the problems, seeking clarification on its meaning and application.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to establish a reference point (origin) for solving the problems, but there is no consensus on the specific methods or approaches to take for each problem. Multiple competing views and methods are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the application of concepts such as energy conservation and the use of kinematic equations. There are also unresolved questions regarding the interpretation of setting an origin in the context of the problems.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and individuals interested in physics, particularly those working on kinematics and motion problems in a homework or academic context.

vulivu001
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Homework Statement


1. TWO ELEVATORS OPERATING IN PARALLEL SHAFTS, APPROACH EACH OTHER FROM POSITIONS WHICH ARE 120m APART. THE UPPER CAR HAS A DOWNWARD ACCELERATION OF 0.5m/s^2 AND THE LOWER CAR IS BEING ACCELERATED UPWARD AT 1m/s^2. WHEN AND WHERE WILL THEY PASS EACH OTHER IF THE LOWER CARD STARTS 1 SECOND AFTER THE OTHER CAR.

2.A BODY MOVES IN A STRAIGHT LINE SO THAT ITS ACCELERATION IS IS a=3v, WHERE "a" IS IN m/s^2 AND "v" in m/s. IF s=3m AND v=1.2m/s, FIND
A) "v" IN TERMS OF "s"
B)THE VALUES OF VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION WHEN s = 10m.

3)A FLYWHEEL 0.8m IN DIAMETER ACCELERATES UNIFORMLY FROM REST TO 1200 RPM IN 30 SECONDS. HOW MANY REVOLUTIONS DOES THE FLYWHEEL MAKES IN ATTAINING ITS SPEED OF 1200 RPM?

4) AN AUTOMOBILE WEIGHING 9KN TRAVELS AT 80km/hr. AT THE FOOT OF AN INCLINE OF 10 DEGREES, THE MOTOR IS TURNED OFF. HOW FAR DOES THE CAR TRAVEL UP THE INCLINE BEFORE STOPPING?

5) CARS A AND B APPROACH EACH OTHER FROM POINTS 460m APART. CAR A HAS AN INITIAL SPEED OF 70km/hr AND IS DECELERATING AT THE RATE OF 0.40m/s^2. B HAS AN INITIAL SPEED OF 20km/hr. AND IS ACCELERATING AT THE RATE OF 0.30m/s^2. WHEN WILL THE CARS MEET AND HOW FAR WILL EACH HAVE TRAVELLED?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



FOR NUMBER 1) I ASSUMED THAT THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF 120 IS EQUAL TO D(elevator A)+D(elevator B)...now for the time...TIME ELEVATOR A = t and TIME ELEVATOR B = t+1...after that I'm lost...

FOR NUMBER 2) NO IDEA

FOR NUMBER 3) NO IDEA

FOR NUMBER 4) NO IDEA

FOR NUMBER 5) I SET THE THE TOTAL DISTANCE 460m = D(car A) + D(car B), THEIR TIME IS EQUAL... I USED THE KINEMATIC EQUATION "s = volt + 1/2at^2"

460 = volt(car A) + volt(car B) - 1/2(a)(t^2)(Car A) + 1/2(a)(t^2)(Car B)

I used the quadratic formula and arrived at
t = 19.13 seconds
D(car A) = 298.69 m
D(car B) = 161.31 m

ANY HELP AND SUGGESTIONS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
 
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vulivu001 said:

Homework Statement


1. TWO ELEVATORS OPERATING IN PARALLEL SHAFTS, APPROACH EACH OTHER FROM POSITIONS WHICH ARE 120m APART. THE UPPER CAR HAS A DOWNWARD ACCELERATION OF 0.5m/s^2 AND THE LOWER CAR IS BEING ACCELERATED UPWARD AT 1m/s^2. WHEN AND WHERE WILL THEY PASS EACH OTHER IF THE LOWER CARD STARTS 1 SECOND AFTER THE OTHER CAR.

Establish an origin at the shared base of the shafts, and then solve the equations for when the two elevators reach the same elevation.

An alternative is to establish an origin on one of the elevators and use relative postion, velocity, and acceleration to find the time they pass. The rest should be straight forward.



vulivu001 said:
2.A BODY MOVES IN A STRAIGHT LINE SO THAT ITS ACCELERATION IS IS a=3v, WHERE "a" IS IN m/s^2 AND "v" in m/s. IF s=3m AND v=1.2m/s, FIND
A) "v" IN TERMS OF "s"
B)THE VALUES OF VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION WHEN s = 10m.

Replace "a" with a function of "v" using basic kinematic equations of motion. Maybe something like V^{2}_{f} = V^{2}_{i} + 2\cdota\cdotd.

An alternative:
What is the definition of acceleration? You should end up with a simple differential equation in place of a=3*v. You can then integrate the resulting equation using separation of variables.

vulivu001 said:
3)A FLYWHEEL 0.8m IN DIAMETER ACCELERATES UNIFORMLY FROM REST TO 1200 RPM IN 30 SECONDS. HOW MANY REVOLUTIONS DOES THE FLYWHEEL MAKES IN ATTAINING ITS SPEED OF 1200 RPM?

Use the kinematic equations of motion for pure rotation. One such equation would be \dot{θ}_{f} = \dot{θ}_{i} + \alpha\cdot\Deltat.

vulivu001 said:
4) AN AUTOMOBILE WEIGHING 9KN TRAVELS AT 80km/hr. AT THE FOOT OF AN INCLINE OF 10 DEGREES, THE MOTOR IS TURNED OFF. HOW FAR DOES THE CAR TRAVEL UP THE INCLINE BEFORE STOPPING?

I suspect that energy is conserved here... :)

If you haven't been taught energy conservation yet, try setting an origin at the base of the ramp and aligning the x-axis along the ramped surface. Use a free body diagram to determine the acceleration along the ramped surface.

vulivu001 said:
5) CARS A AND B APPROACH EACH OTHER FROM POINTS 460m APART. CAR A HAS AN INITIAL SPEED OF 70km/hr AND IS DECELERATING AT THE RATE OF 0.40m/s^2. B HAS AN INITIAL SPEED OF 20km/hr. AND IS ACCELERATING AT THE RATE OF 0.30m/s^2. WHEN WILL THE CARS MEET AND HOW FAR WILL EACH HAVE TRAVELLED?

Approach this problem the same way you approached problem 1.
 
Thanks for the reply...Im sorry if I'm a bit confused sir...but what do you mean by setting an origin?...is it the place of intersection?
 
vulivu001 said:
Thanks for the reply...Im sorry if I'm a bit confused sir...but what do you mean by setting an origin?...is it the place of intersection?

The origin is where all of your displacements (distances) are measured from. This normally refers to where the x-, y-, and z- axes intersect and equal zero.
 

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