How to calculate velocity in this question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gardalay
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Velocity
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the tension in a pendulum string at the bottom of its swing, given a mass of 1.0 kg and a length of 1.0 m, with the pendulum being released from a height of 0.110 m above its equilibrium position. Participants are exploring the relationship between potential and kinetic energy in the context of periodic motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss various methods to find the velocity at the bottom of the swing, including energy conservation and kinematic equations. There are questions about the appropriateness of using energy methods versus other approaches, as well as clarifications on the definitions of terms like tension and coefficients.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with multiple interpretations of the problem being explored. Some participants have provided calculations and results, while others express uncertainty about the validity of their methods. There is a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the use of energy methods and the resulting values for velocity and tension.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential constraints in their calculations, such as the assumption of small oscillations and the effects of gravitational components in different directions. There is also mention of the lack of an answer key to verify results.

Gardalay
Messages
20
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



a pendulum of mass 1.0kg and length 1.0m is swung from a height of 0.110m above its equilibrium position. Find the tension of the pendulum string at the bottom of its swing.

Formula:
T=mv^2/r+mg

How do i get the V^2?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm trying to find the tension...I don't have the # for T. do i just use v^2=Vi^2+2ad? and make velocity initial 0?
 
no its periodic motion not projectile
 
what is the # for T and u?
 
do you mean coefficient by #?
the velocity at the bottem is given by -wAsin(wt) and from x=Acos(wt) you know that wt =1 since velocity is max at the bottem
 
yeah...what's the coefficient for T and u
 
dont worry about what i said before it was for something else,,,, I get v at the bottom as 0.3445m/s, is the T in the formula up the top period or tension just asking because I've never seen it before.
 
it's for tension
 
do you get the right answer when you sub the v i found into your equation? answer 9.93N
 
  • #10
yeah i got that answer (I don't know if it was right though since I don't have the answer key). How did you find V again? I have no idea what '-wAsin(wt) and from x=Acos(wt)' was.
 
  • #11
use energy conversion to get mgh = (1/2) mv^2. v is the speed at the bottom.
and then T = mg + mv^2 / r
 
  • #12
that equation doesn't give me a velocity of 0.3445m/s.
mgh=1/2mv^2
(1kg)(9.8m/s^2)(1.1m)=1/2(1kg)(v^2)
=4.64m/s

Is it 4.64 m/s?
 
  • #13
t my procedure should yield exactly the same answer as using energy methods, T=2pisqrt(L/G) T=2.0 f= 0.498 w=3.13 v=wA v=0.244m/s , anyone know why that doesn't work?
 
  • #14
from energy methods v=1.469 but I am not sure i agree with it since your acceleration (9.81) is for free fall but this is not the case for pendulums which is why our answer don't line up.

there is a component of that acceleration in the x direction, I am quietly confident that you can't use energy methods to solve this now,,,, more proof there is a horizontal displacement that looses energy. in conclusion you can't use energy methods!
 
  • #15
I have no idea, can someone clarify this please?
 
  • #16
Gardalay said:
that equation doesn't give me a velocity of 0.3445m/s.
mgh=1/2mv^2
(1kg)(9.8m/s^2)(1.1m)=1/2(1kg)(v^2)
=4.64m/s

Is it 4.64 m/s?

The above equation should be

(1kg)(9.8m/s^2)(0.11m)=1/2(1kg)(v^2)
 
  • #17
Equations you need: note w is onega or angular velocity
X(t)=Acos(wt)
now you know that at equilibrium velocity is a maximum. so at this point A=x
cos 0 =1 therefore wt=1
T(period)=2pi*sqrt(L/g)
T=2 , f=t^-1 f=0.498Hz , w =2pif, w=3.13
v(t)=wAsin(wt) as said before, wt is 1
vmax=wa
vmax=3.13*0.11
v=0.344m/s

need more clarification? ps as i said before you can't use energy methods
 
  • #18
rl.bhat do you think that that will give the correct velocity at the bottom? ie do you think you can use energy methods for this?
 
  • #19
pat666 said:
rl.bhat do you think that that will give the correct velocity at the bottom? ie do you think you can use energy methods for this?

In the simple pendulum, for small oscillations, the total energy remains the constant.
 
  • #20
The energy in the system would certainly remain constant. I don't understand how mgh=1/2mv^2 would possibly work though. the velocity that gives would be the velocity if it was dropped straight down with nothing attached. the velocity i calculated is significantly different than the one using energy and this oscillation would be called a "small oscillation" can you see anything wrong with what i did??
 
  • #21
lemme elaborate the energy method

during the pendulum's motion, there is conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy. the difference in potential energies between the end point(top) & the centre(bottom) gets converted to kinetic energy that the pendulum has at the bottom.

potential energy = mgh1 at the top & mgh2 at the bottom.

energy at the extreme position = mgh1
energy at the bottom position = mgh2 + (1/2)mv^2.

equate & u get mg*0.11 = (1/2)mv^2.


the other method a few are speaking about, is really tedious. the energy method is v.simple & straight-forward. it just requires the energies at the two paths & does not bother about the motion between the top paths, unlike the other method
 
  • #22
i f know the energy method, my problem is that there is a component of g in the x direction unless it is released perpendicularly. also if the energy method could be used accurately here why don't the two answers line up, either i screwed something up in my calculations (entirely possible) or the energy method (the way you are using it) doesn't hold true for pendulums.
 
  • #23
so u want to compose g into - the radial component (pointing outward along the sting) & the theta component (pointing perpendicular to the string in the direction of motion).

the theta component is g sin(theta).
this is the acceleration experienced by the pendulum. u can very well use it to find the velocity at the bottom. but clearly this is much more complicated.
 
  • #24
but much more accurate and true. i think saying that g acts straight down on the mass is inaccurate enough to say the answer is just wrong! again unless I am missing some fundamental principle.
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
2K