Newton law's - Finding acceleration

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving Newton's laws and the calculation of acceleration in a system with multiple masses connected by a string. The participants explore the dynamics of the system, particularly focusing on the acceleration of different masses and the center of mass (CM) in both inertial and non-inertial frames of reference.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on each mass, including tension, weight, and normal reactions. There are attempts to derive equations based on these forces, with some questioning the assumptions made about the direction of acceleration and the role of the center of mass.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering various equations and approaches to understand the problem better. Some participants suggest introducing additional variables to clarify the relationships between the accelerations of the different masses. There is an ongoing exploration of how to relate the accelerations of the masses in the context of the inertial frame.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of considering the inertial frame of reference for all calculations. There are discussions about the implications of the string's length remaining constant and how this affects the motion of the masses involved.

  • #31
ehild said:
Yes.

But how should I form the equations now? I need one more equation.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
ehild said:
Sammy, do you ask me? I wish Pranav to find it out.

ehild
My mistake.

Yes, I see now.
 
  • #33
Hear is a different approach.
Consider x- co-ordinates of M, 5M and 2M. When M moves through a distance x1 towards x- axis,
the whole system moves through a distance x2 away from the x-axis.
Hence the net change in the x co-ordinate of CM = M(x2 - x1) + 5Mx2 + 2Mx2 = 0.
Replace x1 and x2 by a1 and a2. You have already found a1. Find a2.
 
  • #34
Pranav-Arora said:
But how should I form the equations now? I need one more equation.

How is the acceleration of M related to the vertical acceleration of 2M and the acceleration of 5M in the inertial frame of reference? The length of the string can not change. And M moves with respect to 5M.

Start a new page, denote the horizontal acceleration components by a1,a2,a5, the vertical acceleration of 2M by a2y.
Decide a positive x and positive y direction and write up all equations for a1, a2, a5, and a2y.

ehild
 
Last edited:
  • #35
rl.bhat said:
Hear is a different approach.
Consider x- co-ordinates of M, 5M and 2M. When M moves through a distance x1 towards x- axis,
the whole system moves through a distance x2 away from the x-axis.
Hence the net change in the x co-ordinate of CM = M(x2 - x1) + 5Mx2 + 2Mx2 = 0.
Replace x1 and x2 by a1 and a2. You have already found a1. Find a2.

rbhat: I would like that Pranav figure out the relation between the accelerations. He does not need a different approach. And he haven't found a1 yet.

ehild
 
  • #36
ehild said:
How is the acceleration of M related to the vertical acceleration of 2M and the acceleration of 5M in the inertial frame of reference? The length of the string can not change. And M moves with respect to 5M.

Start a new page, denote the horizontal acceleration components by a1,a2,a5, the vertical acceleration of 2M by a2y.
Decide a positive x and positive y direction and write up all equations for a1, a2, a5, and a2y.

ehild

The direction to the right is positive x-axis and vertically upwards is y-axis.
Equation for motion of M: ##T=Ma_1##

Equation for motion of 2M:
In horizontal direction: ##N=2Ma_2##
In vertical direction: ##2Mg-T=2Ma_{2y}##

Equation for motion of 5M: ##T-N=5Ma_5##

I only have ##a_2=a_5## but I still need one more equation to relate ##a_1## and ##a_{2y}##. I still can't figure out what I am missing. :(
 
  • #37
Pranav-Arora said:
The direction to the right is positive x-axis and vertically upwards is y-axis.

Equation for motion of M: ##T=Ma_1##

Equation for motion of 2M:

In horizontal direction: ##N=2Ma_2##
It would be clearer to call this ##\ a_{2x}\ ## rather than ##\ a_{2}\ .##

In vertical direction: ##2Mg-T=2Ma_{2y}##

Equation for motion of 5M: ##T-N=5Ma_5##

I only have ##a_2=a_5## but I still need one more equation to relate ##a_1## and ##a_{2y}##. I still can't figure out what I am missing. :(
With the above change, you have ##\ a_{2x}=a_5\ ##


Notice that if block 2M moves distance, d, down, then block M moves distance, d, to the left with respect to block 5M. That should tell you how ##\ a_1\ ## is related to ##\ a_{2y}\ ## and ##\ a_{5}\ . ##
 
  • #38
Pranav-Arora said:
I only have ##a_2=a_5## but I still need one more equation to relate ##a_1## and ##a_{2y}##. I still can't figure out what I am missing. :(

You miss two things:

i. The length of rope does not change. When the hanging block goes down the vertical piece of rope becomes longer by dL (shown in blue). The horizontal piece becomes shorter by dL, so the block 1 slides to the left by dL. The speeds of both blocks dL/dt are the same with respect to the big block. The velocity components: negative velocity of block 2 involves negative velocity of block 1. If block 1 would move with speed v1' to the right, block 2 would move upward with the same speed, so again, v1'=v2y '- with respect to the big block.

ii. We are in the frame of reference fixed to the ground. In that frame of reference the big block moves with velocity v5 in horizontal direction. With respect to it, the horizontal velocity of block 2 is zero, so v2x=v5.
If block 1 has velocity v1' with respect to block 5, moving with velocity v5, block 1 moves with v1=v5+v1' with respect to the ground. (Consequence of Galilean transformation http://psi.phys.wits.ac.za/teaching/Connell/phys284/2005/lecture-01/lecture_01/node5.html) The same is true for the accelerations, dv/dt.

ehild
 

Attachments

  • pulleysonblock.JPG
    pulleysonblock.JPG
    7.3 KB · Views: 233
  • #39
ehild said:
You miss two things:

i. The length of rope does not change. When the hanging block goes down the vertical piece of rope becomes longer by dL (shown in blue). The horizontal piece becomes shorter by dL, so the block 1 slides to the left by dL. The speeds of both blocks dL/dt are the same with respect to the big block. The velocity components: negative velocity of block 2 involves negative velocity of block 1. If block 1 would move with speed v1' to the right, block 2 would move upward with the same speed, so again, v1'=v2y '- with respect to the big block.

ii. We are in the frame of reference fixed to the ground. In that frame of reference the big block moves with velocity v5 in horizontal direction. With respect to it, the horizontal velocity of block 2 is zero, so v2x=v5.
If block 1 has velocity v1' with respect to block 5, moving with velocity v5, block 1 moves with v1=v5+v1' with respect to the ground. (Consequence of Galilean transformation http://psi.phys.wits.ac.za/teaching/Connell/phys284/2005/lecture-01/lecture_01/node5.html) The same is true for the accelerations, dv/dt.

ehild

Thanks ehild, great explanation! :smile:

##a_{2y}=a_1+a_5 \Rightarrow a_{2y}=8a##

I had ##2Mg-T=2Ma_{2y} \Rightarrow 2Mg=23Ma \Rightarrow a=2g/23##

Thank you!
 
  • #40
I am not sure if I understand what you did, but the result is OK.

ehild
 
  • #41
ehild said:
I am not sure if I understand what you did, but the result is OK.

ehild

The acceleration of 2M is same in both the reference frame. The acceleration of M in the reference frame fixed to 5M is ##a_{2y}##. ##a_{2y}=a_1-(-a_5)##, this is how I derived the first equation in my previous post.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
835
Replies
16
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
4K
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K