How Is Acceleration Calculated for a Hollow Cylinder Lawn Roller?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the acceleration of a hollow cylinder lawn roller being pulled by a constant force while rolling without slipping. Key equations include the balance of forces in both the x and y directions, leading to the equations for translational and rotational motion. The derived formula for acceleration is a = F / (M + 0.5*M*(R1^2 + R2^2) / R2^2). Participants are questioning the correctness of the calculations and seeking clarification on any potential errors. Overall, the calculations appear to be accurate based on the provided equations.
John O' Meara
Messages
325
Reaction score
0
A lawn roller in the form of a hollow cylinder of mass M is pulled horizontally with a constant force F applied by a handle attached to the axle. If it rolls without slipping, find the acceleration and the frictional force.
Let R1 be the radius of the hollow and R2 the outer radius, and (alpha) the angular acceleration.
Sum Fy= n - M*g
Sum Fx= F - f.
Where n = normal reaction and f = friction force. Applying Sum F = M*a, we get n=M*g ...as ay=0.
F - f = M*ax ...the equation for the translational motion of the center of mass. And where ax and ay are the accelerations in the x and y directions resprctively.
And the equation of rotational motion about the axis through the center of mass is:
f*R2 = I*(alpha)=.5*M*(R1^2+R2^2)
f*R2 = .5*M*(R1^2+R2^2)*ax/R2: let a=ax
f = .5*M*(R1^2+R2^2)*a/R2^2 ...(ii)
F-f = M*a...(i) After adding i and ii
a=F/(M+.5*M*(R1^2+R2^2)/R2^2.
The question is, is this correct or not? And where is it wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Looks OK to me.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top