Moment of Inertia & Angular Motion of a Stick

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the moment of inertia and angular motion of a stick pivoted at a specific point. The original poster presents a scenario involving a stick of uniform density, detailing its mass, length, and pivot location, while seeking assistance with angular acceleration and forces acting on the stick as it passes through a vertical position.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between torque, angular acceleration, and forces acting on the stick. Questions arise regarding the absence of torque from weight at the vertical position and how to calculate the forces involved, including centripetal force and normal reaction.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, questioning assumptions about forces and torque. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between normal force and weight, as well as the concept of centripetal force as a resultant force. However, there remains uncertainty about the calculations and the interpretation of forces acting on the stick.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes considerations of gravitational force, centripetal force, and the geometry of the stick's motion. Participants express confusion over the correct application of these concepts in the context of the problem.

humpdebump19
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A stick of uniform density with mass M = 7.5 kg and length L = 1 m is pivoted about an axle which is perpendicular to its length and located 0.12 m from one end. Ignore any friction between the stick and the axle.


a) What is the moment of inertia of the stick about this axle?
Iaxle = kg m2
A: 1.708 OK

The stick is held horizontal and then released.
b) What is its angular speed as it passes through the vertical

w = rad/s
A: 5.7217 OK



This is where I'm having problems, I'm not exactly sure how to do these last two.

c) What is its angular acceleration as it passes through the vertical position?
a = rad/s2

d) What is the magnitude of the vertical component of the force exerted by the stick on the axle when the stick passes through the vertical?
|Fvertical| = N
 
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The weight produces a torque, [itex]\tau = I \alpha[/itex]
 
I logically discovered that there would be no torque from weight at the vertical, but what about part d?

I think the only forces acting are gravity and the centripetal force, but how would i solve this?

I know the weight = m*g = 73.575
and centripetal force acts in two directions, up and down, with each piece.

Fc = m*(v^2/r)
and v = w*r
so Fc = m*(w*r)^2/r
or Fc = m*r*w^2

so centripetal force down would be...
m*(.88)(5.7217)^2 = 216.07

and up would be...
m*(.12)(5.7217)^2 = 29.46

To get the total, I would add weight + down - up, but I don't have the right values.
What's wrong with my equations?
 
You will have a normal reaction and the weight. The resultant of those two provide the centripetal force.
Centripetal force is a resultant force, so on a free body diagram you do not include it.
 
rock.freak667 said:
You will have a normal reaction and the weight. The resultant of those two provide the centripetal force.
Centripetal force is a resultant force, so on a free body diagram you do not include it.

well, what's the normal reaction? I am not sure what you mean.
like the force opposing weight? wouldn't that mean the total force would be 2*w?
 
humpdebump19 said:
well, what's the normal reaction? I am not sure what you mean.
like the force opposing weight? wouldn't that mean the total force would be 2*w?

on the axle, there is a reaction just due to the stick being contact.

The normal force is upwards, the weight is downwards. The resultant of these two is the centripetal force (which points to the center of rotation, or in this case upwards)
 
so then how would i find that force if it isn't the same as weight?
 
humpdebump19 said:
so then how would i find that force if it isn't the same as weight?

Because the resultant of the normal reaction and the weight is the centripetal force.

You have the angular speed as it passes through the vertical, so you can get the centripetal force.

I also do not know what up and down centripetal force you refer to.

Your radius would be the distance from the center of mass of the stick to the center of rotation (axle)
 

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