# Launching a projectile from a spinning wheel

1. Jul 27, 2013

### natasha13100

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Two engineers are working together in a competition to launch a pumpkin as high as possible using a launching device that must be kept within a certain height. Since the engineers have a height restriction, they want to accelerate the pumpkin to a large speed before releasing it. They decide a good way to get the pumpkin moving fast is to attach the pumpkin to a vertical wheel turned by a motor.

The first engineer suggests that when the wheel is turning as fast as possible at its constant rate w, the pumpkin can be released so that it goes straight upwards.

The other engineer gets out a notebook, runs through some physics calculations, and concludes that releasing the pumpkin straight up will not achieve maximum height. If the wheel spins at a constant angular velocity w, at what angle Θ should the pumpkin be released to reach the highest distance from the ground?

In your calculations, use the small angle aproximations for the sinΘ and cosΘ, and assume the wheel is spinning quickly. Use g, R, and W in your answer. Hint: what are the necessary terms to keep in your small angle approximation?

Diagram is attached.

2. Relevant equations
v=Rw
a=Rα
v=vi+at
x=xi+vixt+1/2axt2
vx2=vix2+2axt
x=xi+1/2(vx+vix)(t-ti)

3. The attempt at a solution
I am not sure how to solve this without θ being 0 or H being in my equation. I also do not understand the small angle approximation thing.
Here's what I have:
vx=vsinθ=Rwsinθ
vy=vcosθ=Rwcosθ
0=(Rwcosθ)2+2gH

Here I do one of two things
1. (Rwcosθ)2=-2gH
Rwcosθ=√(-2gH)
cosθ=√(-2gH)/(Rw)
θ=cos-1√(-2gH)/(Rw)
2. -(Rwcosθ)2=2gH
H=-(Rwcosθ)2/2g
g is -9.8m/s2 and R and w are constant so H depends on cosθ2.
For H to be maximum, cosθ would be maximum. This happens when cosθ=1.
θ=0

#### Attached Files:

• ###### mass and projectile.png
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2. Jul 27, 2013

### SteamKing

Staff Emeritus
What happens to sinθ and cosθ when θ gets small? Remember, θ is in radians.

3. Jul 27, 2013

### verty

I don't see why, if we are trying to find the angle that gives greatest height, we should assume the angle is small. It is conceivable that a large angle gives the greatest height. Why not check all angles?

4. Jul 27, 2013

### SteamKing

Staff Emeritus
You are saying the angle for max.height should be small and then you are saying the angle could be large. You can't have it both ways.

5. Jul 27, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

This is one of those times where punctuation is important The clause between the commas is just stating the goal. It can be rearranged as:

"If we are trying to find the angle that gives greatest height, I don't see why we should assume the angle is small. It is conceivable that a large angle gives the greatest height. Why not check all angles?"​

6. Jul 27, 2013

### verty

It's an odd question, is all.

7. Jul 27, 2013

### voko

This does not look right. H is positive (it is the height), and so is $R \omega \cos^2 \theta$, so this equation is true only when $H = 0$ and $\theta = 90°$, which is useless for the problem.

What is the correct formula?

Secondly, you ignore the initial elevation of the pumpkin while it is still attached to the disk.

8. Jul 28, 2013

### technician

At the point of release the vertical component of the velocity = ωRCosθ and therefore the vertical distance travelled from this point is (ωRCosθ)2/2g
The point of release is at a height of RSinθ from the horizontal reference point.

9. Jul 29, 2013

### natasha13100

I am getting pretty confused, but I will try to answer posts as they came.
SteamKing: Why does θ have to be in radians? Anyhow, I would think sinθ would be close to 0 and cosθ would be close to 1.

Verty: I'm sorry, but that's the question exactly as I was given it except for the "Diagram is attached" part.

Voko: I am talking about velocity in the y direction.
v2=vi2+2ay.
At the top, v=0.
vi is the tangential velocity from the circular motion equation (v=Rω).
since vy=vcosθ(the angle of velocity from the horizontal is 90-θ), vi2=(Rwcosθ)2
Okay, so the tiny initial height above θ=0 should be included in the equation which would make it 0=(Rwcosθ)2+2g(h-hi)
hi=Rsinθ so 0=(Rwcosθ)2+2g(H-Rsinθ)
2gH=2gRsinθ-R2w2cos2θ
H=Rsinθ-R2w2cos2θ/2g
since sinθ≈0 and cosθ=≈1, H=-R2w2/2g
could that be it?
I ignore the height from the ground to the center on purpose.

technitian: Sorry, I just realized you had already put up the answer to voko's post. Thanks. :)

10. Jul 29, 2013

### voko

Again: both terms on the right hand side are positive, so their sum cannot be zero except in the trivial case $h = h_i$ and $\theta = \pi / 2$. This cannot be right.

And you end up with a negative height. Definitely not good. But if you ignore thesign, then the height is what you would get by launching the thing straight up. Hint: this is because $\sin \theta \approx 0$ is too rough an approximation; do you know a better one?

11. Jul 29, 2013

### haruspex

I strongly advise not making any approximations until the equations reach a point where you need to approximate to make further progress.

12. Jul 29, 2013

### technician

Don't get hung up about +ve and - ve heights!
The max height travelled has 2 parts...
1) the release height = RSinθ

2) the vertical distance from the release height. = (ωRCosθ)2/2g

I do not see any justification for having to consider "small angles"
Try any angle!!.....450 and see what comes out !

(450 is nice to try because Sinθ and Cosθ are the same ...1/√2)
You will get a 'feel' of the problem by trying things like this.
This is a nice problem....it cannot be easy because there are 3 independent variables...ω, R and θ

13. Jul 29, 2013

### rude man

There is only one independent variable, θ.
R and w are given. 2R = max allowed height of contraption.

I saw no need for approximation, got a simple answer but probably had better check my math.

Last edited: Jul 29, 2013
14. Jul 29, 2013

### rude man

Absolutely right.

15. Jul 29, 2013

### natasha13100

Well I'm assuming g=-9.8m/s^2. I have no idea how to make a better approximation. The only thing I can think of is to approximate for cos(theta) and not sin(theta) then solve for theta. (cos(theta) is really close to 1 and doesn't make a big difference, but sin(theta) matters because anything is bigger than zero.)

Last edited: Jul 29, 2013
16. Jul 29, 2013

### voko

Then avoid making approximations just yet. If g is negative, then your equations are correct, and all you need to do is maximize $H = R \sin \theta - \frac {R^2 \omega^2} {2g} \cos^2 \theta$.

17. Jul 29, 2013

### natasha13100

If I am thinking correctly, it will be maximized when the derivative=0. Since theta is the only unknown, I can treat it like I would normally treat an x in math. This means that 0=Rcos(theta)+R^2*w^2*2sin(theta)cos(theta)/2g and theta=arcsin(-g/Rw^2)

Last edited: Jul 29, 2013
18. Jul 29, 2013

### voko

Yes.

19. Jul 29, 2013

### rude man

I think the sign before the 2nd term is wrong. Otherwise, exactly what I got.

Oh, wait, if g < 0 it's exactly what I got. An easy maximization, and no approximation necessary.

If max H is desired you need to replace Rsinθ with R(1 + sinθ). For maximization it's irrelevant of course.

20. Jul 29, 2013