Calculating Pencil Pendulum Angle with X/Y Coords

  • Thread starter Thread starter irrationalistic
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle Pendulum
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the angle formed by a pencil held at the eraser end when moved back and forth, creating a pendulum effect. It suggests using the Cartesian coordinates of the eraser end and the velocity of its movement to derive an equation for the new angle. The motion can be analyzed by considering forces acting on the pencil, including gravity and the acceleration of the hand. A differential equation for angular displacement can be formulated by taking moments around the eraser end. The conversation emphasizes the complexity of the motion and the need for a unified solution in a Cartesian system.
irrationalistic
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I have a question that hours of internet research have not answered. I noticed that, for example, when I am holding a pencil by the eraser end and I let gravity hold it in a vertical position, when i move my hand back and forth, the tip of the pencil lags behind then forms a pendulum with that new angle. What i am looking for is, on a cartesian plane, if given the x and y coordinates of the eraser end of the pencil and the velocity at which that end is moving, if there is an equation to calculate the new angle formed.
Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
see when the pencil moves in a pendulum it forms a complex pendulum in yz axis and since the pencil itself moves in xy axis it follows a equation with x and y coordinates in sinusoidal function... the pencil if u consider as a whole has many points and has a single Centre of mass the motion of those points form a matrix of equations with yz coordinates and if u have time and leisure just solve those equations and get a unified solution in cartesian system which each point of ur pendulum will follow
 
This is one possible way of doing this:
1.Suppose you move your hand back and forth with acceleration a(t) in the positive x-direction, a known function.

2. Go into the rest frame of the eraser end.
In this frame, there's three "forces" acting upon the pencil:
a) The weight of the pencil, acting at the center of mass of the pencil
b) The force from your hand, acting on the eraser end
c) The auxiliary force, -ma(t), acting at the center of mass of the pencil

3. Take the moment with respect to the eraser head in order to eliminate the contact force b) from further consideration.

The resulting moment of momentum equation gives you the differential equation for the angular displacement.
 
I think, the last answer was formulated correctly, but however, you must put the acceleration a(t) in the positive x-direction like a function X=ACos(wt+Fi). In that way the solution of your problem is very simple.
 
Last edited:
irrationalistic said:
I have a question that hours of internet research have not answered. I noticed that, for example, when I am holding a pencil by the eraser end and I let gravity hold it in a vertical position, when i move my hand back and forth, the tip of the pencil lags behind then forms a pendulum with that new angle.
What do you mean the tip of your pencil lags behind?
 
This has been discussed many times on PF, and will likely come up again, so the video might come handy. Previous threads: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-a-treadmill-incline-just-a-marketing-gimmick.937725/ https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/work-done-running-on-an-inclined-treadmill.927825/ https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-do-we-calculate-the-energy-we-used-to-do-something.1052162/
Thread 'Is 'Velocity of Transport' a Recognized Term in English Mechanics Literature?'
Here are two fragments from Banach's monograph in Mechanics I have never seen the term <<velocity of transport>> in English texts. Actually I have never seen this term being named somehow in English. This term has a name in Russian books. I looked through the original Banach's text in Polish and there is a Polish name for this term. It is a little bit surprising that the Polish name differs from the Russian one and also differs from this English translation. My question is: Is there...
Hi there, im studying nanoscience at the university in Basel. Today I looked at the topic of intertial and non-inertial reference frames and the existence of fictitious forces. I understand that you call forces real in physics if they appear in interplay. Meaning that a force is real when there is the "actio" partner to the "reactio" partner. If this condition is not satisfied the force is not real. I also understand that if you specifically look at non-inertial reference frames you can...
Back
Top