Polar coordinates and kinematics

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a kinematics problem involving a rocket's motion in polar coordinates, specifically finding the equations for position, velocity, and acceleration. The user is uncertain about how to express the radial and angular components of acceleration in relation to the given data. They propose an equation for r(t) but struggle to incorporate acceleration into their calculations effectively. The conversation highlights the need for a clearer understanding of the relationships between radial speed, angular speed, and acceleration in polar coordinates. Assistance is sought to clarify these concepts and improve the approach to the problem.
Telemachus
Messages
820
Reaction score
30

Homework Statement


I've got some trouble and doubts with polar coordinates. I have this exercise, with a rocket going upwards, with a given acceleration. So I need to find the polar equation for the given situation for the position, the velocity and the acceleration. How should I proceed? I mean, I know I must find an equation that describes the path for r(t) in the polar form, but I'm not sure on how the acceleration fit on this.

attachment.php?attachmentid=28831&stc=1&d=1286321434.png


The distance between the origin and the rocket "D" is given by the problem data.

Homework Equations


r(t)=r\vec{e_r}
v(t)=\dot r\vec{e_r}+r\dot \theta\vec{e_{\theta}}
a(t)=(\ddot r-r\dot \theta^2)\vec{e_r}+(r\ddot \theta+2 \dot r \dot \theta)\vec{e_{\theta}}

I think that r(t) could be: r(t)=\sec \theta \vec{e_r}, but then I don't know how to work with the acceleration on the radial direction, or over the angle direction neither. Should I use trigonometry for this?
 

Attachments

  • drw.PNG
    drw.PNG
    1.5 KB · Views: 587
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
I've tried this way, but it doesn't looks fine really

a=k, s=kt x=\displaystyle\frac{k}{2}t^2

Then the radial speed:
\dot r=s \cos \theta=kt \cos \theta

And the angular speed:
\dot \theta=s \sin \theta=kt \sin \theta

I think that the equation for r(t) should be \vec{r(t)}=\sec \theta \hat{e_r}. But I don't know how to work with it.

\dot r=v(t)=\dot r\vec{e_r}+r\dot \theta\vec{e_{\theta}}
\dot r=\sec r \tan r\hat{e_r}+\sec r \dot \theta \hat{e_{\theta}}

I don't know how to determine the radial speed and the angular speed, considering the acceleration, and I think what I've done doesn't make any sense.

Any help please?
Bye there.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top