How Is Energy Lost to Friction Calculated in a Pivoting Spool System?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating energy lost to friction in a pivoting spool system with specific parameters: a spool with an inner radius of 0.50m, outer radius of 0.65m, and a moment of inertia of 0.8957 kg*m², while a mass of 1.5 kg pulls the wire down. The mass falls a distance of 0.51m, reaching a speed of 64.5 cm/s. Two methods were attempted to solve for energy loss; the first neglected the spool, while the second correctly incorporated the spool's kinetic energy using the equation KE = 0.5Iw², emphasizing the importance of calculating angular velocity accurately.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of rotational dynamics and moment of inertia
  • Familiarity with kinetic energy equations (KE = 0.5mv² and KE = 0.5Iw²)
  • Knowledge of angular velocity and its relationship to linear velocity (v = rw)
  • Basic principles of energy conservation in mechanical systems
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  • Calculate the moment of inertia for various spool designs
  • Explore the effects of friction in rotational systems
  • Learn about energy conservation principles in mechanical systems
  • Study the relationship between linear and angular motion in detail
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Physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding energy dynamics in rotational systems.

sullyjared
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Homework Statement


A spool of thin wire (with inner radius R=0.50m outer radius R=o.65m, and a moment of inertia I_cm=0.8957 kg*m^2) pivots on a shaft. The wire is pulled down by a mass M=1.5 kg. After falling a distance D=0.51m, starting from rest, the mass has a speed of v=64.5 cm/s. Calculate the energy lost to friction during that time.


Homework Equations


KE=.5Iw^2
KE=.5mv^2
v=rw
I=.5M(r^2+R^2)


The Attempt at a Solution


I have made two attempted solutions for this problem. The first was simple. I neglected the spool all together. Then I solved for the potential energy of the mass pulling down and the kinetic energy of this mass, and found the difference... that didn't work.
My second attempt was to calculate the kinetic energy of the spool with KE=.5Iw^2 and compare it to the Kinetic energy of the mass pulling down but to solve for the spools kinetic energy i need the moment of inertia about the axis of rotation, which means i need the mass of the spool, which i don't have... any suggestions?
 
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I think you have to assume that the wire that unwinds does not change the MoI of the spool and wire. So your second method should work if you calculate w (omega) correctly. You have the outer dimension of the spool so that is straightforward.
 

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