I I'm calculating more energy out than I put in

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The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a 5 kg solid sphere subjected to a 5 Newton tangential force. The main issue is a discrepancy in the calculated total kinetic energy, which is 6.97 joules instead of the expected 5 joules. Participants emphasize the importance of considering both linear and rotational work done by the force, noting that the force applied at the edge of the sphere affects both its linear and angular motion. There is a suggestion to use symbolic representation in calculations to clarify the relationships and avoid numerical errors. The conversation concludes with the acknowledgment that the force's application method significantly impacts the energy calculations.
  • #31
PeterDonis said:
The magnitude of the linear acceleration will be constant. But its direction will not be, because the OP specified that the force is always applied tangentially to the sphere. That requires the force to change direction.
If the force is on the top horizontal tangent then I don't see how the force needs to change direction.
 
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  • #32
kuruman said:
Interesting. Yes, the force is specified as tangential but there is no specification that it is applied at a fixed point on the sphere. The picture I had in mind was a tangential force that does not change direction, e.g. a thin jet of air at a glancing angle or putting the sphere on an accelerating conveyor belt.

I deleted the post you quoted to avoid confusion. A drawing would have been a good thing to have.
Yes, it's something like that, a force applied to the top horizontal tangent of the sphere.
 
  • #33
Chenkel said:
But I still don't see how the energy put into the system is 17.5 joules.

Maybe the force through a distance idea changes a little for energy transfer in rotating systems.
 
  • #34
Chenkel said:
Yes, it's something like that, a force applied to the top horizontal tangent of the sphere.
Even if you're doing it that way, the linear distance through which the force is acting won't be 5 meters (which was the underlying point I was trying to make when I said the force would change direction--I was thinking of a different method of applying the force, putting it at a single point on the sphere with no slippage). As @Dale pointed out, the center of mass motion is less than the motion of the tangent point at which the force acts. So the final linear velocity will be smaller than what you are calculating. It should be obvious that the final linear velocity can't be what you would get from 5 joules of linear kinetic energy, since some of the work done is not going into linear motion.
 
  • #35
Chenkel said:
Maybe the force through a distance idea changes a little for energy transfer in rotating systems.
Of course it does. If some of the work is going into rotational energy, it's not going into linear kinetic energy.
 
  • #36
I cannot make sense of your numbers. The 17.5 Joules is meaningless to me.
For the linear motion
$$L=\frac{1}{2}\frac{F}{M}t^2\implies t^2=\frac{2ML}{F}$$
The translational kinetic energy is
$$K_{trans.}=\frac{1}{2}Mv^2=\frac{1}{2}Ma^2t^2.$$The rotational kinetic energy is $$K_{rot.}=\frac{1}{2}I\omega^2=\frac{1}{2}I\alpha^2 t^2.$$
Put in the appropriate expressions for the accelerations and the moment of inertia. Simplify the expressions and add them.
 
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  • #37
Chenkel said:
Yes, it's something like that, a force applied to the top horizontal tangent of the sphere.
Then see my answer above. That is exactly what I assumed.

Since you are getting confused with the displacements it will be better to calculate power rather than work. Use ##P=\vec F \cdot \vec v## and integrate over time.
 
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  • #38
kuruman said:
I cannot make sense of your numbers. The 17.5 Joules is meaningless to me.
For the linear motion
$$L=\frac{1}{2}\frac{F}{M}t^2\implies t^2=\frac{2ML}{F}$$
The translational kinetic energy is
$$K_{trans.}=\frac{1}{2}Mv^2=\frac{1}{2}Ma^2t^2.$$
This is already enough to show the issue. We have ##a = F / M##, so ##L = a t^2 / 2## and ##K_{trans.} = M a L = F L##. But that means nothing is left over for rotational kinetic energy at all!

So the problem is not what equations to use. The problem is what numbers to plug into them. The OP was assuming that the correct numbers for the linear motion are ##L = 1##, ##F = 5##, and ##M = 5##. But that cannot be right if there is any rotation at all. If we assume that ##M## and ##F## can be controlled by the experimenter and hence are known, then ##L = 1## must be wrong for the linear part of the motion. The actual linear ##L## must be smaller than that.
 
  • #39
Dale said:
it will be better to calculate power rather than work. Use ##P=\vec F \cdot \vec v## and integrate over time.
But what ##\vec{v}## should be used?

It seems to me that the first task is to figure out how to divide up the work being done (or power being expended, either way it's the same problem) between linear and rotational motion. I'm not sure if the problem specification is sufficient to do that.
 
  • #40
PeterDonis said:
But what v→ should be used?
The only relevant ##\vec v## is the material at the point of application of the force. That is the velocity that is always used in this context.

PeterDonis said:
It seems to me that the first task is to figure out how to divide up the work being done (or power being expended, either way it's the same problem) between linear and rotational motion.
That happens naturally as you calculate the velocity of the material at the point of application of the force
 
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  • #41
Chenkel said:
But I was thinking of the force as parallel with the ground but at the top of the ball, I wasn't thinking of a rotating force vector.
OK, that makes sense. Then the force is applied over a larger distance since [the material at] its point of application is both rotating and translating.
 
  • #42
PeterDonis said:
But that means nothing is left over for rotational kinetic energy at all!
Left over from what? In post #36, I outlined the calculation for translational and rotational energy hoping that OP would finish it. Here it is anyway.$$K_{trans.}=\frac{1}{2}Mv^2=\frac{1}{2}M\left(at\right)^2=Ma\left(\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)=FL.$$ We have seen that the time needed to translate by ##L## under constant acceleration is given by ##t^2=\dfrac{2ML}{F}.## In that time the sphere acquires rotational kinetic energy at constant torque ##(\tau=FR=I\alpha)## about its CM. Thus,
$$\begin{align} K_{rot.}& = \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2=\frac{1}{2}I(\alpha t)^2=I\alpha\left(\frac{1}{2}\alpha t^2\right)=FR\left(\frac{1}{\cancel{2}}\frac{\cancel{F}R}{I}\times\frac{\cancel{2}ML}{\cancel{F}}\right) \nonumber \\
& =FL\frac{MR^2}{I}=\frac{5}{2}FL. \nonumber
\end{align}$$The total mechanical energy acquired is $$ME=\frac{7}{2}FL.$$
 
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  • #43
Chenkel said:
Maybe the force through a distance idea changes a little for energy transfer in rotating systems.
No it doesn't. But calculating the distance might be more complicated. As @Dale wrote, you have to integrate the dot-product of force and velocity of the material to which the force is applied (power) to get work.
 
  • #44
PeterDonis said:
Of course it does. If some of the work is going into rotational energy, it's not going into linear kinetic energy.
I'd like to learn more how that works.
 
  • #45
So always in mechanical problems the power is ##P=\vec F \cdot \vec v## where ##\vec v## is the velocity of the material at the point of application of the force ##\vec F##. One simple rule, always.

So here ##\vec F## and ##\vec v## are in the same direction so ##P=Fv##. And we have ##v=v_c+\omega r## where ##v_c## is the velocity of the center of mass, ##\omega## is the angular velocity, and ##r## is the radius.

By Newton’s 2nd law ##F=m \dot v_c## which has the solution ##v_c=t F/m##. And the rotational analog ##\tau=rF=I \dot \omega## which has the solution ##\omega=t \ r F/I##.

Now we just integrate $$W=\int_0^t P \ dt =\frac{t^2 F^2}{2m}+\frac{t^2 r^2 F^2}{2 I}=\frac{1}{2}mv_c^2+\frac{1}{2}I\omega^2$$
 
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  • #46
Dale said:
Now we just integrate $$W=\int_0^t P \ dt =\frac{t^2 F^2}{2m}+\frac{t^2 r^2 F^2}{2 I}=\frac{1}{2}mv_c^2+\frac{1}{2}I\omega^2$$
Which is what I have in post #42 in terms of ##F## and ##L##.

Actually, more generally one can say that when impulse ##J## is delivered tangentially to the sphere, it acquires momentum $$Mv=J\implies v=\frac{J}{M}$$ and angular momentum about the CM $$I\omega=RJ\implies \omega=\frac{RJ}{I}.$$ Then the ratio of rotational to translational kinetic energy is $$ \frac{K_{rot.}}{K_{trans.}}=\frac{I\omega^2}{Mv^2}=\frac{MR^2}{I}=\frac{5}{2}.$$
 
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  • #47
kuruman said:
$$K_{trans.}=\frac{1}{2}Mv^2=\frac{1}{2}M\left(at\right)^2=Ma\left(\frac{1}{2}at^2\right)=FL.$$
What is the value of ##L##?
 
  • #48
Dale said:
By Newton’s 2nd law ##F=m \dot v_c## which has the solution ##v_c=t F/m##. And the rotational analog ##\tau=rF=I \dot \omega## which has the solution ##\omega=t \ r F/I##.
What is the value of ##t##?
 
  • #49
kuruman said:
Then the ratio of rotational to translational kinetic energy is $$ \frac{K_{rot.}}{K_{trans.}}=\frac{I\omega^2}{Mv^2}=\frac{MR^2}{I}=\frac{5}{2}.$$
This would indeed be the missing piece that I described earlier.

So if this is true, and if it is also true that ##L## for the translational force is 1 meter, as stated in the OP, then you have just figured out where the OP's figure of 17.5 joules comes from: 5 joules of translational kinetic energy (5 newtons times 1 meter), plus 5/2 times 5 = 12.5 joules of rotational kinetic energy, equals 17.5 joules of total kinetic energy.

However, I don't think that ##L##, the total translational distance through which the force acts, is 1 meter. More precisely, that statement is inconsistent with the total rotational distance through which the force acts (angle times radius) being 1 meter (total angle 1 radian). In fact we would expect the ratio of distances to be the same as the ratio of kinetic energies (because the ratio of distances is the ratio of work done), so if the rotational distance is 1 meter, the translational distance is 2/5 of a meter.

That still means the total kinetic energy is more than 5 joules; now it's 5 joules of rotational kinetic energy, plus 2 joules of translational kinetic energy, for a total of 7 joules.
 
  • #50
Hill said:
I don't think it answers my objection. If the force of 5 Newton were applied to the center of the sphere, the sphere would move 1 m without rotating, and the work done would be 5 joules. But in your case, the force makes the sphere move and rotate. So, the work should be more then 5 joules.
If I have a sphere and I apply a force to the top part to rotate it forward the top part of the sphere moves with velocity ##v_{top} = v_c + (R){\omega}## where ##\omega## is the angular velocity in radians per second about the center of mass and R is the distance between the center of mass and the top of the sphere where the force is applied, and ##v_c## is the velocity of the center of mass.

So if the top part is moving with a velocity ##v_{top}## the center of mass will be moving with a velocity of ##v_{top} - (R){\omega}## so the top part of the tire will move more than the center of mass meaning more work will be applied than I initially thought.
 
  • #51
Chenkel said:
more work will be applied than I initially thought
Assuming that the distance ##L## through which the force is applied for one of the motions is 1 meter, yes. But you have to decide whether that distance is for the rotational motion (i.e., the sphere rotates through an angle of 1 radian while the force is being applied) or the translational motion (i.e., the center of mass moves 1 meter while the force is being applied). Those two conditions give different answers for the total work done.
 
  • #52
PeterDonis said:
What is the value of ##t##?
Any real number. It shows that energy is conserved at all times.
 
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  • #53
Dale said:
Any real number. It shows that energy is conserved at all times.
I meant, what value of ##t## would be used to calculate the total kinetic energy for this problem. I agree that energy conservation holds for all ##t##, not just that particular one.
 
  • #54
PeterDonis said:
I meant, what value of ##t## would be used to calculate the total kinetic energy for this problem. I agree that energy conservation holds for all ##t##, not just that particular one.
I don’t think it matters because it resolves the concern for all values of ##t##. But if you really need one then you can integrate either ##v## or ##v_c## to get the distance and solve for ##t##.
 
  • #55
Dale said:
So always in mechanical problems the power is ##P=\vec F \cdot \vec v## where ##\vec v## is the velocity of the material at the point of application of the force ##\vec F##. One simple rule, always.

So here ##\vec F## and ##\vec v## are in the same direction so ##P=Fv##. And we have ##v=v_c+\omega r## where ##v_c## is the velocity of the center of mass, ##\omega## is the angular velocity, and ##r## is the radius.

By Newton’s 2nd law ##F=m \dot v_c## which has the solution ##v_c=t F/m##. And the rotational analog ##\tau=rF=I \dot \omega## which has the solution ##\omega=t \ r F/I##.

Now we just integrate $$W=\int_0^t P \ dt =\frac{t^2 F^2}{2m}+\frac{t^2 r^2 F^2}{2 I}=\frac{1}{2}mv_c^2+\frac{1}{2}I\omega^2$$
I understood that derivation of kinetic energy, for the sphere situation but I'm a little unfamiliar with the equation ##P=Fv##

Most of the time when I ask about it online I get the following derivation of the power force velocity equation ##work = force * displacement## and we divide both sides by time and we get ##power = force * velocity##

Does this formula mean that at very high velocities a car generates more power for the same force or torque it applies to the wheels? Or does it mean that at higher speeds a car requires more power for a given force?

Also what is the time in the formula, is the time equal to the time the force is applied and velocity is a function of time that increases as the force is applied?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!
 
  • #56
Chenkel said:
Does this formula mean that at very high velocities a car generates more power for the same force or torque it applies to the wheels? Or does it mean that at higher speeds a car requires more power for a given force?
The latter. Unless by "generates more power" you just mean that the car's engine produces more power, in which case both of your questions are saying the same thing.
 
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  • #57
Dale said:
Any real number. It shows that energy is conserved at all times.
I don't understand what you mean by this. What kind of energy conservation is this when there is no potential energy and the kinetic energy is a function of time? Mechanical energy conservation means (to me) that ##K+U## at point A is the same as ##K+U## at some other point B. This is not the case here. The sphere starts moving from rest and there is no potential energy.
 
  • #58
kuruman said:
I don't understand what you mean by this.
@Dale is just stating the work energy theorem for the scenario in question. At any time, the work done (which must come from whatever external energy source is providing the applied force) must equal the kinetic energy produced (as you note, there is no potential energy so the kinetic energy produced is the total energy produced).
 
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  • #59
Chenkel said:
Does this formula mean that at very high velocities a car generates more power for the same force or torque it applies to the wheels?
Yes.

Chenkel said:
Or does it mean that at higher speeds a car requires more power for a given force?
Yes, it is the same thing as above. For a fixed force more power is required and therefore generated. If the car cannot produce sufficient power then it cannot produce that force at higher speeds.

Chenkel said:
Also what is the time in the formula, is the time equal to the time the force is applied and velocity is a function of time that increases as the force is applied?
Yes.
 
  • #60
kuruman said:
What kind of energy conservation is this when there is no potential energy and the kinetic energy is a function of time?
The kind where the change in energy is equal to the work done.
 
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