Minimum Coefficient of Friction for Non-Rolling Disk on Platform

estalas
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Homework Statement



Question
A disk is initially stationary on a platform. Force P is exerted on the platform. Mass of Disk is MD and Mass of Platform is MP.

Determine the minimum coefficient of friction in order for the ball to not roll.
What is the acceleration of the ball as seen from stationary frame?

Attempt

Homework Equations



F=ma
I(alpha)=Summation of Moment

The Attempt at a Solution



Acceleration of Ball has to be equal to the acceleration of the Platform since both starts from stationary.

F (friction on ball)= MD x a
P - F (friction on platform) = MP x a

Since F can obtained, the angular acceleration of the ball is to be determined next.

I x (alpha = angular acceleration) = (moment about center of the ball = Fr)

With this "alpha" can be determined.

Now for the last step,

Acceleration of ball from neutral frame = acceleration of cart - (alpha x radius of ball)
Hence, negative acceleration is obtained, which infer that the ball roll backwards.

Please do correct me if there is any mistake.

Thanks in advance.
 
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estalas said:

Homework Statement



Question
A disk is initially stationary on a platform. Force P is exerted on the platform. Mass of Disk is MD and Mass of Platform is MP.

Determine the minimum coefficient of friction in order for the ball to not roll.
What is the acceleration of the ball as seen from stationary frame?
Your problem description is not quite clear. I assume that the problem begins with a ball at rest on a platform (on top of a frictionless surface)? And that you need the minimum coefficient of friction so that the ball rolls without slipping?
 
Doc Al said:
Your problem description is not quite clear. I assume that the problem begins with a ball at rest on a platform (on top of a frictionless surface)? And that you need the minimum coefficient of friction so that the ball rolls without slipping?

Yes. Initially the disk and the platform are stationary. A force P is then applied to the platform alone. What is the minimum coefficient of friction so that the ball rolls without slipping.
 
Welcome to PF!

estalas said:
Yes. Initially the disk and the platform are stationary. A force P is then applied to the platform alone. What is the minimum coefficient of friction so that the ball rolls without slipping.

Hi estalas! Welcome to PF! :smile:

Like Doc Al, I don't understand either. :confused:

You talk about a disk and a ball.

Are they the same thing, or two different things?

If it's a disk (like a coin), in which direction is it pointing, compared with the force, P?
 
estalas said:
Yes. Initially the disk and the platform are stationary. A force P is then applied to the platform alone. What is the minimum coefficient of friction so that the ball rolls without slipping.
I assume you mean the ball and the platform are initially stationary. (There's no disk, right?)
 
Sorry, my mistake for the ambiquity. Thanks for pointing it out !

Its an infinitely thin disk, with I= 1/2 mr^2.
So the question is on what is the coefficient of friction to keep the disk from slipping.
 
estalas said:
Sorry, my mistake for the ambiquity. Thanks for pointing it out !

Its an infinitely thin disk, with I= 1/2 mr^2.
So the question is on what is the coefficient of friction to keep the disk from slipping.

(ambiguity! :wink:)

Just one more point …

originally you said "rolling" … should we forget about that?

is this a disk, lying flat on the platform, and the only thing it can do is to slip (or slide)?

ok, do Ftotal = ma for the disk …

what do you get? :smile:​
 
estalas said:
Sorry, my mistake for the ambiquity. Thanks for pointing it out !

Its an infinitely thin disk, with I= 1/2 mr^2.
So the question is on what is the coefficient of friction to keep the disk from slipping.
OK, so if I understand you correctly, there is no ball in this problem only a disk. You have a disk on its edge resting on a platform. (I'll assume that the axis of the disk is perpendicular to the acceleration of the platform.) The problem is to figure out the minimum coefficient of friction that would have the disk roll without slipping. Right?

Assuming that is correct, let's return to your original post.
estalas said:

The Attempt at a Solution



Acceleration of [STRIKE]Ball[/STRIKE] [Disk] has to be equal to the acceleration of the Platform since both starts from stationary.

F (friction on ball)= MD x a
P - F (friction on platform) = MP x a
The acceleration of platform and disk cannot be the same--otherwise they would move together and the disk would never roll.

Hint: How do the accelerations of the disk and the platform and the angular acceleration of disk relate to each other, considering that the disk is rolling along the platform without slipping?
 
Doc Al said:
OK, so if I understand you correctly, there is no ball in this problem only a disk. You have a disk on its edge resting on a platform. (I'll assume that the axis of the disk is perpendicular to the acceleration of the platform.) The problem is to figure out the minimum coefficient of friction that would have the disk roll without slipping. Right?

Assuming that is correct, let's return to your original post.

The acceleration of platform and disk cannot be the same--otherwise they would move together and the disk would never roll.

Hint: How do the accelerations of the disk and the platform and the angular acceleration of disk relate to each other, considering that the disk is rolling along the platform without slipping?

By mental visualization,
The acceleration of the disk should be lower than that of the platform itself. And the angular acceleration of the disk should be resulting in acceleration that is in opposite direction to the platform. Am I right?

However, i am having a difficulty in coming up with the relation to all these.
Please do enlighten me with the relationship and how it come about... thanks !
 
  • #10
estalas said:
By mental visualization,
The acceleration of the disk should be lower than that of the platform itself.
Good.
And the angular acceleration of the disk should be resulting in acceleration that is in opposite direction to the platform. Am I right?
The translational acceleration of the disk (its center of mass) will be in the same direction as the force on it. That same force produces the angular acceleration of the disk, causing it to roll back (with respect to the platform).

However, i am having a difficulty in coming up with the relation to all these.
Please do enlighten me with the relationship and how it come about... thanks !
For the moment, view things from the frame of the platform. What's the condition for rolling without slipping? That will allow you to relate the angular acceleration with the translational acceleration of the disk with respect to the platform.
 
  • #11
The translational acceleration of the disk (its center of mass) will be in the same direction as the force on it. That same force produces the angular acceleration of the disk, causing it to roll back (with respect to the platform).

Okay

For the moment, view things from the frame of the platform. What's the condition for rolling without slipping? That will allow you to relate the angular acceleration with the translational acceleration of the disk with respect to the platform.

In the case whereby "force P aact to the right", causing platform to accelerate to the right,

For rolling without slipping, acceleration of the disk w.r.t platform should be equal to the product of angular acceleration x radius

Hence,
translational acceleration = angular acceleration x radius

With this, Is it correct for me to say the frictional force is acting to the left, because the disk is rotating to the left wrt platform. Hence, the disk is actually acceleration in opposite direction if i were to look at it at the platform?

And, is the translational acceleration of the disk = acceleration of the platform due to force, but in opposite direction?

Thanks for the fast reply !
 
  • #12
Oh yeah to add on,

Just like you said, translational acceleration should be in the same direction as angular acceleration, this means frictional force on the disk will be to the left.

Hence, the frictional force acting on the platform will be to the right, hence this will cause the platform to move even faster ? i don't really get this part.
 
  • #13
estalas said:
In the case whereby "force P aact to the right", causing platform to accelerate to the right,

For rolling without slipping, acceleration of the disk w.r.t platform should be equal to the product of angular acceleration x radius

Hence,
translational acceleration = angular acceleration x radius
Good. Note that this translational acceleration is with respect to the platform.

With this, Is it correct for me to say the frictional force is acting to the left, because the disk is rotating to the left wrt platform.
No. Friction acts to prevent slipping. If there were no friction, the disk would slip to the left (with respect to the platform); friction acts to prevent that slipping, thus it acts to the right. Think of someone pulling the platform to the right and the platform dragging the disk along via friction.
Hence, the disk is actually acceleration in opposite direction if i were to look at it at the platform?
That's true. The disk rolls to the left with respect to the platform.

And, is the translational acceleration of the disk = acceleration of the platform due to force, but in opposite direction?
No.
 
  • #14
estalas said:
Oh yeah to add on,

Just like you said, translational acceleration should be in the same direction as angular acceleration, this means frictional force on the disk will be to the left.
No. The translational acceleration with respect to the platform will be in the same direction as the disk rolls with respect to the platform. But friction acts to the right. (Careful about analyzing the dynamics in an accelerating frame. You need to add inertial forces.)
Hence, the frictional force acting on the platform will be to the right, hence this will cause the platform to move even faster ? i don't really get this part.
That wouldn't make much sense. Luckily, it's not true. :smile:
 
  • #15
Ok.

So

1) Friction on cylinder is to the right.
Hence, using F=(M disk) a, Translational acceleration of Cylinder is to the Right

2) The risk rolls without slipping to the left wrt platform.
r(alpha)=a (nonslip condition)

3. With the alpha obtained, taking moment about centre of circle
I(alpha)=Fr
This will allow me to find F, the frictional force, hence the coefficient of friction.

Anything wrong with the above equation?

And finally, i still need to find the Acceleration of the Circular Disk. I could not relate it to the acceleration of the platform..
 
  • #16
OK. i Think i got the relation.

F= Frictional force between disk and platform.
m= mass of disk
M= mass of platform
a= acceleration of disk, wrt to neutral frame
A= acceleration of platform, wrt to neutral frame.
r= radius of disk

Hence,

A- (alpha) r = a

In this case, let's consider the disk also move at A due to platform. However, it rolls in opposite direction, hence, the actual acceleration wrt neutral frame is A - (alpha) r

Is my relation right?
 
  • #17
estalas said:
1) Friction on cylinder is to the right.
Hence, using F=(M disk) a, Translational acceleration of Cylinder is to the Right

2) The risk rolls without slipping to the left wrt platform.
r(alpha)=a (nonslip condition)
Make sure you realize that the acceleration in (1) is not the same acceleration as in (2).

estalas said:
Hence,

A- (alpha) r = a

In this case, let's consider the disk also move at A due to platform. However, it rolls in opposite direction, hence, the actual acceleration wrt neutral frame is A - (alpha) r

Is my relation right?
Yes, that looks good to me. (What you are calling a 'neutral' frame is usually called an inertial frame.)
 
  • #18
Alright! Thank you for the guidance along the way =)
 

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