# Particle Moving Along Slot

1. Feb 25, 2015

### Haptic9504

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The particle has a mass of 0.5kg and is confined to move along the smooth horizontal slot due to the rotation of the arm OA. Determine the force of the rod on the particle and the normal force of the slot on the particle when θ = 30∘. The arm has an angular acceleration of θ¨ = 3rad/s2 and θ˙ = 2rad/s at this instant. Assume the particle contacts only one side of the slot at any instant.

Diagram is attached.

2. Relevant equations
$$\Sigma F_{\theta} = ma_{\theta} \\ \Sigma F_{r} = ma_{r} \\ a_{r} = \ddot{r} - r\dot{\theta}^{2} \\ a_{\theta} = r\ddot{\theta} + 2\dot{r}\dot{\theta}$$

3. The attempt at a solution

My FBD.

Establishing the position equation and taking time derivatives.
$$r=(0.5m)cos\theta \\ \dot{r}=-(0.5m)sin(\theta)\dot{\theta} \\ \ddot{r}=-(0.5m)[\ddot{\theta}sin\theta + \dot{\theta}^2cos\theta]$$
Solving using the given values for theta, theta**, and theta*...
$$r|_{\theta=30}=(0.5m)cos(30)=0.43m \\ \dot{r}|_{\theta=30,\dot{\theta}=2}=-(0.5m)sin(30)(2 rad/sec)=-0.5 m/sec \\ \ddot{r}|_{\theta=30,\dot{\theta}=2,\ddot{\theta}=3}=-(0.5m)[(3rad/sec^2)sin(3)+(2rad/sec)^2cos(30)]=-2.45m/sec^2$$
Solving for ar yields
$$a_{r}=(-2.48m/sec^2)-(0.43m)(2rad/sec)^2=-4.20 m/sec^2$$
Sum of the forces in radial direction...
$$\Sigma F_{r}=Ncos(30)-mgcos(30)=ma_{r}$$
Solving in terms of N and plugging in the variables gives me a value of N as 2.47N, when the accepted answer is 6.37N and based on the sum of forces in theta direction the value for F depends on N. I've done this problem over 3 times and still can't see where I am going wrong. :(

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2. Feb 25, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Can you explain why you're looking at the radial length r? Presumably the particle's motion is constrained to the x-direction and the arm slides (presumably without friction) against it. Perhaps you might consider finding an expression for the horizontal position of the particle in terms of θ, then see how its acceleration relates to the given parameters of θ for the instant in question.

3. Feb 26, 2015

### Haptic9504

I went right to looking at r since this question immediately follows a chapter on expressing motion in the cylindrical coordinate system (r,theta,z).

I feel as though that would complicate the problem. Cylindrical coordinates simplify the expressions a little.

4. Feb 26, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

But in this case you are looking for the forces acting on the particle, which is constrained to move horizontally. If you can determine its horizontal acceleration you can determine the net horizontal force acting on it. Then it's a bit of vector component work to sort out the rest.