Kinematics in Cylindrical Coordinates

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on analyzing the motion of a bead sliding on a frictionless cylinder in cylindrical coordinates. The bead, with mass m, starts at position (R,0) with an initial angular momentum L0 less than mR√(Rg). Participants emphasize the necessity of incorporating gravitational forces into the equations of motion, specifically resolving gravity into radial and tangential components. The correct approach involves applying Newton's Second Law, ensuring that both the radial and tangential accelerations are accounted for in the calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Cylindrical coordinates and their application in physics
  • Newton's Second Law of Motion
  • Understanding of angular momentum in mechanics
  • Chain rule for differentiation in calculus
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the resolution of forces in cylindrical coordinates
  • Learn about the application of Newton's Second Law in rotational dynamics
  • Explore the concept of angular momentum and its conservation
  • Review the chain rule in calculus for time-dependent variables
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, particularly those studying mechanics, engineers working with rotational systems, and anyone interested in the dynamics of motion in cylindrical coordinates.

Zinggy
Messages
12
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A small bead of mass m slides on a frictionless cylinder of radius R which lies with its cylindrical axis horizontal. At t = 0 , when the bead is at (R,0), vz = 0 and the bead has an initial angular momentum Lo < mR sqrt(Rg) about the axis of the cylinder where g is the acceleration due to gravity. The bead slides from (R,0) down the curved surface of the cylinder and eventually loses contact with that surface.

Find r(double dot) in Cylindrical Coordinates.
2. Homework Equations

Position Vector of r = ˆ iRcosφ + ˆ jRsinφ = ρˆR

The Attempt at a Solution


I know r(double dot) is the same as d2r/dt2 so;
r = ˆ iRcosφ + ˆ jRsinφ = ρˆR
r(dot) =- iRsinφ+jRcosφ -unless R changes with time, which I don't think it does.
then
r(double dot) = iR-cosφ - jRsinφ
I think I'm missing something. Do I need to include the angular momentum somewhere?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Zinggy said:

Homework Statement



A small bead of mass m slides on a frictionless cylinder of radius R which lies with its cylindrical axis horizontal. At t = 0 , when the bead is at (R,0), vz = 0 and the bead has an initial angular momentum Lo < mR sqrt(Rg) about the axis of the cylinder where g is the acceleration due to gravity. The bead slides from (R,0) down the curved surface of the cylinder and eventually loses contact with that surface.

Find r(double dot) in Cylindrical Coordinates.
2. Homework Equations

Position Vector of r = ˆ iRcosφ + ˆ jRsinφ = ρˆR

The Attempt at a Solution


I know r(double dot) is the same as d2r/dt2 so;
r = ˆ iRcosφ + ˆ jRsinφ = ρˆR
r(dot) =- iRsinφ+jRcosφ -unless R changes with time, which I don't think it does.
then
r(double dot) = iR-cosφ - jRsinφ
I think I'm missing something. Do I need to include the angular momentum somewhere?
You are missing the force of gravity in your equations.

Zinggy said:
r(dot) =- iRsinφ+jRcosφ -unless R changes with time, which I don't think it does.
Your are also missing the chain rule when you take derivatives with respect to time.
Is the bead on the inside or the outside of the cylinder? Specifically, is point (R,0) in Cartesian coordinates?
 
kuruman said:
You are missing the force of gravity in your equations.Your are also missing the chain rule when you take derivatives with respect to time.
Is the bead on the inside or the outside of the cylinder? Specifically, is point (R,0) in Cartesian coordinates?

This is the diagram that goes with the question.
Physics diagram.png

The bead is sliding along the outside of the cylinder. When I'm missing gravity, does it go in the first derivative? The position vector is given without gravity present.

Thanks for your time.
 

Attachments

  • Physics diagram.png
    Physics diagram.png
    5.3 KB · Views: 733
Zinggy said:
This is the diagram that goes with the question.
View attachment 238105
The bead is sliding along the outside of the cylinder. When I'm missing gravity, does it go in the first derivative? The position vector is given without gravity present.

Thanks for your time.
Gravity affects acceleration, not velocity.

You must resolve the gravitational force into two components: (i) the radial component (pointing towards the center of the circle); and (ii) the tangential component (pointing southwest in your drawing, along the surface of the cylinder). The radial component just serves to hold the bead to the surface, while the tangential components accelerates the bead along the surface.
 
Zinggy said:
When I'm missing gravity, does it go in the first derivative?
Have you studied Newton's Second law ##\vec F_{net}=m \vec a~##?
 

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
6K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
5K