I want to know if the sketch I've drawn of the catenary suits the exercise

  • Thread starter Thread starter mcastillo356
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Catenary Drawing
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the horizontal component of the force exerted on a balloon and the height of the globe in a catenary system. The vertical force on the balloon is established at 500 N, with the cable length being 70 m and a weight per unit length of 5 N/m. The horizontal force, calculated as T_{B_x}, is determined to be approximately 412.12 N. The height difference between the two points of the cable is computed to be 41.876 m, demonstrating the equilibrium of forces in the system.

PREREQUISITES
  • Catenary equations and their derivation
  • Understanding of equilibrium in physics
  • Basic calculus for integration
  • Vector components of forces
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the catenary equation from first principles
  • Explore the concept of equilibrium in static systems
  • Learn about vector decomposition of forces in physics
  • Investigate applications of catenary curves in engineering
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, engineers working with tension systems, and anyone interested in the mathematical modeling of forces in equilibrium scenarios.

mcastillo356
Gold Member
Messages
658
Reaction score
361
Homework Statement
The exercise is about, concerned with the catenary. But, algebraicaly solved, some sketch was missing.
Relevant Equations
##y=y_0\,cosh{\cfrac{x}{y_0}}##
##y'=sinh{\cfrac{x}{y_0}}##
Statement
The vertical component of the force exerted on the balloon in the figure is ##500\,N##. The ##AB## cable has a length of ##70\,m## and a weight per unit length of ##q=5\,N/m##. Calculate the horizontal component of the force exerted on the balloon, and the height of the globe, assuming the system is in equilibrium.

Algebraic solution
As we know there are two points, ##A## and ##B##, we use the following notation for the stresses: ##T_A## and ##T_B##, and ##T_{A_x}##, ##T_{A_y}##,##T_{B_x}##,##T_{B_y}## for the horizontal and vertical components. We will also use the concept of length of arch. We will assume that the arch ##AB## belongs to a catenary with the following notation: ##y=y_0\,cosh{\cfrac{x}{y_0}}## respect a cartesian coordinate system with no origin at ##A## nor ##B##.

It is known that at any point of the cable, the vertical component of the stress is directly proportional to the length of the arch, ##s##, being the proportionality constant the weight of the cable per length unit, ##q##. Also, the horizontal component is constant.

So, ##T_{B_y}=q\,s_B\Longleftrightarrow{500=5\,s_B}\Longleftrightarrow{s_B=100\,m}##

Thus, ##s_A=100-70=30\,m##

$$s_A=\displaystyle\int_0^{x_A}\,\sqrt{1+[y'(x)]^2}\,dx=y_0\,sinh{\cfrac{x_A}{y_0}}\Longleftrightarrow{30=y_0\,sinh{\cfrac{x_A}{y_0}}}=y_0\cdot{y'(x_A)}=y_0\,\tan{20^o}\Longrightarrow{y_0=\cfrac{30}{\tan{20^o}}}$$

Thus, respect to the horizontal component of the force made to the globe,

$$T_{B_x}=T_0=q\,y_0=5\cdot{\cfrac{30}{\tan{20^o}}}=412.12\,N$$

Also,

$$\cosh{\cfrac{x_A}{y_0}}=\sqrt{1+sinh^2{\cfrac{x_A}{y_0}}}=\sqrt{1+\tan^2{20^o}}\Longrightarrow{ y_A=y_0\,\cosh{\cfrac{x_A}{y_0}}=y_0\,\sqrt{1+\tan^2{20^o}}=30\sqrt{1+\cot^2{20^o}}}$$

On the other side

$$s_B=\displaystyle\int_0^{x_B}\,\sqrt{1+[y'(x)]^2}\,dx=y_0\,\sinh{\cfrac{x_B}{y_0}}\Longleftrightarrow{100=y_0\sinh{\cfrac{x_B}{y_0}}}\Longrightarrow{\sinh{\cfrac{x_B}{y_0}}}=\cfrac{100}{y_0}\Longrightarrow{\cosh{\cfrac{x_B}{y_0}}}=\sqrt{1+\sinh^2{\cfrac{x_B}{y_0}}}=\sqrt{1+\bigg (\cfrac{100}{y_0}\bigg )^2}\Longrightarrow{}$$

$$y_B=y_0\,\sqrt{1+\bigg (\cfrac{100}{y_0}\bigg )^2}=30\,\sqrt{\cfrac{100}{9}+\cot^2{20^o}}$$

Knowing the ordinates of both positions, we compute the difference

$$h=y_B-y_A=30\,\sqrt{\cfrac{100}{9}+\cot^2{20^o}}-30\,\sqrt{1+\cot^2{20^o}}\Longleftrightarrow{h=41.876\,m}$$

Finally, the calculus that inspired the Geogebra file I've drawn is this:

If ##s_B=100##, ##l(AB)=70##, then
$$s_B\,:=\displaystyle\int_0^{x_B}\sqrt{1+[y'(x)]^2}\,dx=\displaystyle\int_0^{x_A}\sqrt{1+[y'(x)]^2}\,dx+\displaystyle\int_{x_A}^{x_B}\sqrt{1+[y'(x)]^2}\,dx\Longrightarrow{s_B=s_A+l(AB)}\Longrightarrow{s_A=100-70=30}$$

There goes. No preview.

Cat.png
Exercise.jpg
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
mcastillo356 said:
The vertical component of the force exerted on the balloon in the figure is 500N.
What force is this?
There would be three vertical forces on the balloon, no? The weight of the balloon, the buoyant force on the balloon and the vertical component of the force from the cable.
Since the system is in equilibrium, these are in balance.
The vertical component of the force from the cable would be downwards and must be less than the weight of the cable (unless the diagram is misleading, and ought to show the cable rising above its tether, not hanging from it).
 
The diagram is twisted to the right in the original post. It should have been like this:




Balloon.jpg
 
mcastillo356 said:
The diagram is twisted to the right in the original post. It should have been like this:




View attachment 360104
Ok, but that can only be in equilibrium if there is some other horizontal force, a breeze perhaps, on the balloon. So I assume the task is to find that force.

You have the right answer for ##T_{Bx}##, but it can be derived in three or four lines, without needing to know the equation for a catenary.

Your diagram appears to put both the anchor point, A, and the origin for the catenary equation on the x axis. This is not possible. Maybe it would be clearer either by making the diagram larger or distorting the scale.
 
Last edited:
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: mcastillo356
haruspex said:
You have the right answer for ##T_{Bx}##, but it can be derived in three or four lines, without needing to know the equation for a catenary.
How?
 
Lnewqban said:
How?
How? . . . indeed .

How are ##\displaystyle T_{By}## and ##\displaystyle T_{Ay}## related ?

How are ##\displaystyle T_{Ax}## and ##\displaystyle T_{Ay}## related ?

How are ##\displaystyle T_{Ax}## and ##\displaystyle T_{Bx}## related ?
 
SammyS said:
How? . . . indeed .
The axial tension of the rope at B must be equal to the axial tension of the rope at A plus the weight of the rope.

Catenary rope.jpg
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: mcastillo356
Everything gets fixed, I mean well defined, if we set the proper function that suits the correct diagram, ie, ##f(x)=82.42\cosh{\cfrac{x}{82.42}}##. Provided a cientific calculator, ##x_A=29.37##, and ##x_B=84.44##; so we conclude

$$L=\displaystyle\int_{x_A}^{x_B}{\,\cosh{\cfrac{x}{82.42}}\,dx}\simeq{70}$$

Catenator.png

There goes, no preview
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lnewqban
The forces can be derived without the equation for the catenary (as @haruspex stated), but that isn't the only objective.

The catenary equation (if given in the question statement) to solve the problem to get the height of the balloon is a "helper fact", but it should be derivable from first principles. i.e. you shouldn't have to know it- correct?
 
Last edited:
  • #10
erobz said:
The forces can be derived without the equation for the centenary
catenary. Same etymological root as "chain".
erobz said:
The centenary equation (if given in the question statement) to solve the problem to get the height of the balloon is a "helper fact", but it should be derivable from first principles. i.e. you shouldn't have to know it- correct?
Interestingly, we could have been given the weight of the rope instead of its mass per unit length. The answer can still be found without assuming the rope is uniform, so no need to assume it follows a catenary.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lnewqban
  • #11
haruspex said:
catenary. Same etymological root as "chain".
Oh yes, a double misspelling. Fixed.
haruspex said:
Interestingly, we could have been given the weight of the rope instead of its mass per unit length. The answer can still be found without assuming the rope is uniform, so no need to assume it follows a catenary.
Yeah, I do see that.

I'm having a bit of trouble deriving the curve, ## y(x)## from first principles.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 93 ·
4
Replies
93
Views
15K
  • · Replies 175 ·
6
Replies
175
Views
27K