Paradox of Rigid Body: Solve the Mystery

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the dynamics of a rigid rod rotating about one end, with an external tangential force applied to the opposite end. A paradox arises when the calculated resultant force on the rod, F, is found to be greater than the applied force, f, suggesting a contradiction. Participants highlight the importance of accounting for the constraint force at the fixed end, which prevents the rod from flying off and must be included in the force calculations. The constraint force is derived from the moments and is shown to be f/2, indicating that the initial assumption of it being zero was incorrect. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the necessity of considering all forces acting on the system to resolve the apparent paradox.
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There is a rod treating as rigid body, the rod which mass is m and lenghth is R rotate about one end of itself with the angular acceleration \alpha. Apply a tangential external force f on another end to make the rod rotate. Now divide the rod into elements of mass. For each mass element dm with the distance r from the fixed end, it acted by an tangential component of resultant force dF which satisfy:

dF=dm\cdot a_{t} = dm\cdot \alpha r =\lambda dr \cdot \alpha r(\lambda is the linear density)

\alpha =\frac{M}{I}=\frac{fR}{\frac{1}{3}mR^{2}} (M is the moment of force,I is the moment of interia about the fixed end)

So the tangential component of resultant force F of the rod will be:

F = \int_{0}^{R}\lambda dr \cdot \alpha r=\frac{m}{R}\frac{fR}{\frac{1}{3}mR^{2}}\int_{0}^{R}r\cdot dr=\frac{3}{2}f

As we see, F is not equal to f, is this a paradox? what is wrong in this argument?
 
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There is a constraint force at the fixed end of the bar that is keeping the fixed end fixed, and you are ignoring this.
 
D H said:
There is a constraint force at the fixed end of the bar that is keeping the fixed end fixed, and you are ignoring this.

I think ,at the fixed end ,the tangential component of resultant force dF is zero according to dF =\lambda dr \cdot \alpha r,which have included the constraint force.
 
Try again.

If there were no constraint force the bar as a whole would go flying off.
 
Isn't this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll%27s_paradox" ? If you sum the moments around the free end, you'll see that there must be a nonzero component of force perpendicular to the bar at its fixed end, as D H says. Otherwise the bar wouldn't begin to rotate.
 
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This is not Carroll's paradox. Carroll's paradox describes an unreal situation. The OP describes something that is real.
 
Ah, right you are; I spoke (wrote) too soon.
 
Note that the tangental force at the end of the rod is partially opposed by a force at the hinged end of the rod, and I don't see where this opposing force at the hinged end of the rod is taken into account in the original post.
 
Yep, I have realized that I ignored the constraint force, but I still do not understand how to calculate the constraint force f',it is f'=3f/2-f=f/2, isn't it? Is there another way to calculate it ? I only learn a few thing about constraint force before. Constraint force can adjust to the condition automatically, is that right?
Thanks!
 
  • #10
You have:
\frac{dF}{dr}=\lambda\alpha{r}=\frac{3f\lambda}{Rm}r

This yields:
F(r)=\frac{3f\lambda{r}^{2}}{2mR}+C
where C is an undetermined constant.
Using the relation F(R)=f, we get:
C=f-\frac{3}{2}fR\frac{\lambda}{m}=-\frac{1}{2}f
and that is the constraint force at the hinge.

Your fallacy lies in assuming that constraint force to be 0.
 
  • #11
redoxes said:
Yep, I have realized that I ignored the constraint force, but I still do not understand how to calculate the constraint force f',it is f'=3f/2-f=f/2, isn't it? Is there another way to calculate it ?

You could sum the moments around the center of mass and apply

M_C=\dot{H}_C=I_C\alpha=ml^2\alpha/12.
 
  • #12
arildno said:
You have:
\frac{dF}{dr}=\lambda\alpha{r}=\frac{3f\lambda}{Rm}r

This yields:
F(r)=\frac{3f\lambda{r}^{2}}{2mR}+C
where C is an undetermined constant.
Using the relation F(R)=f, we get:
C=f-\frac{3}{2}fR\frac{\lambda}{m}=-\frac{1}{2}f
and that is the constraint force at the hinge.

Your fallacy lies in assuming that constraint force to be 0.


I am afraid I could not agree with you, because under your assumption,there will be F(0)=C Which is not equal to zero at the fixed end, and this will make the rod fly off, so it sounds impossible. I would like to think:

f+C=F=\frac{3f\lambda R^{2}}{2mR}=\frac{3}{2}f

and therefore: C=\frac{1}{2}f

Is that right ?
 

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