Moment of Inertia Problem: cylinder pivoting ona bearing

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a solid cylinder pivoting on a frictionless bearing, where a string pulls downward with a force equal to the weight of a mass. The user is attempting to calculate the moment of inertia (I) of the cylinder but is confused about the relationship between torque (T), angular acceleration (alpha), and how to derive I. They initially calculate acceleration using distance and time but struggle with the equations, particularly regarding the cancellation of alpha when substituting for T. Clarification is provided that the term "new cylinder" refers to a change in moment of inertia in a series of steps, which may have caused confusion. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the problem's context and the relationships between the physical quantities involved.
delecticious
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Homework Statement



M, a solid cylinder (M=2.07 kg, R=0.135 m) pivots on a thin, fixed, frictionless bearing. A string wrapped around the cylinder pulls downward with a force F which equals the weight of a 0.570 kg mass. Starting from rest, the mass now moves a distance 0.350 m in a time of 0.490 s. Find Icm of the new cylinder.
prob16b_002masspulley2.gif


Homework Equations


T -torque
I - moment of inertia
s = 1/2(v0 +vf)t
T/alpha = I
transational acceleration (at) = (alpha)r
translational force (Ft) = m(at)
T = Ft(r)


The Attempt at a Solution


I started out by solving for accleration using the time, distance and initial velocity given, but it's from there where I'm completely confused. To find I, I have to divide T by alpha, but if T is equal to m(at)r which can also be rewiten as mr^2(alpha) then won't the alpha's cancel out making fiding the acceleration useless? When I do that I get mr^2 = I but that can't be right. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?
 
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delecticious said:
M, a solid cylinder (M=2.07 kg, R=0.135 m) pivots on a thin, fixed, frictionless bearing. A string wrapped around the cylinder pulls downward with a force F which equals the weight of a 0.570 kg mass. Starting from rest, the mass now moves a distance 0.350 m in a time of 0.490 s. Find Icm of the new cylinder.
I don't understand the problem. What new cylinder? (Did you present the problem exactly as given?)

Is that your figure or one that came with the problem?
 
sorry, this problem has 4 different steps to it. The first step had a figure and the last 3 go with this figure. In the last step they changed the moment of inertia for the cylinder but everything else concerning the cylinder is the same, so disregard the "new" in front of cylinder if you like, it makes sense in the series of 4 steps but since you've only seen this part of the question it's just as well the only cylinder.
 
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