Is Missing Information Hindering My Physics Homework?

  • Thread starter Thread starter broouk
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Time Tutor
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a physics homework problem involving a cast iron flywheel that is brought to rest by a hydraulic braking system. The individual is attempting to calculate the force exerted by the brake but lacks critical information, specifically the moment of inertia and the radius of the flywheel. They have derived the initial angular velocity and attempted to use relevant equations, but find themselves unable to progress without the missing data. The consensus is that the absence of the moment of inertia is hindering the ability to solve the problem effectively. This highlights the importance of having all necessary parameters for solving complex physics problems.
broouk
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



This is the first part of a more complex problem but I shall give all the relevant data. A cast iron flywheel is rotating at 80rev/sec and is brought to rest in 20sec by a hydraulic braking system acting on the outer dia. of the flywheel. There is 4Nm of frictional torque in the flywheel system and co-efficient of friction of the brake interface is 0.4. I need to find the force that the brake is exerting on the flywheel. For info the brake is then connected to 2 hydraulic cylinders, of different areas, in series and then to a second order lever. However, if I can find the force at the brake I can crack the rest. I have not been given a moment of inertia or a radius for the flywheel and the more time I spend trying to solve this, the more I think that my tutor has made a mistake in not giving one of these.

Homework Equations



initial ang. velocity is 502.65 rads/sec before the braking

T=Fr and F=(co-eff. of friction)*N

Therefore T=co-eff.*N*r

The Attempt at a Solution



I started trying to use the above equations but the only T value I have is for frictional torque.
The only moment of inertia value I can get is also using this fric. torque which is incorrect, I think.
By converting rev/sec to rads/sec=502.65 I can also find the radians rotated by the flywheel. radians=1/2 (initial velocity+final velocity)*t
=5026.5 radians
Still can't seem to get anywhere with this. Do I need a moment of inertia or radius to get any further?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There's indeed no way you can do it without the moment of inertia. I
 
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