Linear acceleration and rotational motion

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving linear acceleration and rotational motion, specifically related to a stuntman dropping from a building while tied to a rotating drum. The problem requires determining the stuntman's linear acceleration in relation to various physical parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive an expression for linear acceleration using tension and torque equations but expresses uncertainty about the validity of their approach. Some participants question the necessity of including gravitational acceleration in their expressions.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some offering feedback on the original poster's equations. There is a recognition of the need to incorporate gravitational effects, and a potential expression for acceleration has been proposed. Additionally, a follow-up question regarding the calculation of the moment of inertia has been raised, with guidance provided on how to approach it.

Contextual Notes

The problem does not explicitly provide a formula for the moment of inertia, leading to discussions about deriving it from other given parameters. There is an emphasis on ensuring that the equations used are valid and appropriately signed.

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Homework Statement



You are the technical consultant for an action-adventure film in which a stunt calls for the hero to drop off a 20.0-m-tall building and land on the ground safely at a final vertical speed of 4.00 m/s. At the edge of the building’s roof, there is a 100-kg drum that is wound with a sufficiently long rope (of negligible mass), has a radius of 0.500 m, and is free to rotate about its cylindrical axis with a moment of inertia I. The script calls for the 50.0-kg stuntman to tie the rope around his waist and walk off the roof.

a.Determine an expression for the stuntman’s linear acceleration in terms of his mass m, the drum’s radius r, and moment of inertia I.

The Attempt at a Solution



So far I'm unable to find an adequate relationship for part a.
So far I have: T-mg =-ma and τ = Tr = Iσ = I\frac{a}{r}, where σ is the angular acceleration, T is the tension, and τ is the torque caused by the tension.
Now if I combine these equations for tension I obtain an expression in terms of g (which doesn't belong as indicated by the question).
Any ideas what I'm doing wrong or neglecting?
 
Last edited:
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Even though g is not mentioned in the question, your answer will involve g.
 
TSny said:
Even though g is not mentioned in the question, your answer will involve g.
Then I would obtain a= \frac{mg}{m+\frac{I}{r^{2}}}
Could you maybe comment on the validity of this statement..?
(I'm not sure my two initial equations are valid --mainly the signs)
 
Your result looks correct.
 
Thanks.
And I just had another quick question, another part of the question asks to calculate the moment of inertia of the drum about its axis. Now the question doesn't seem to give us a formula for moment of inertia, so naturally I believe I would calculate it from the above equation after finding the linear acceleration from a = \frac{v^{2}}{2h} where v = 4 m/s and h = 20 m. Would this be the right approach or can one determine the moment of inertia of the drum in another way?
 
Yes, that's the way to do it.
 
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