Pulley w/ attached weights/Linear+Angular acceleration.

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The discussion focuses on calculating the linear and angular acceleration of two disks connected by ropes with attached weights. The setup includes a smaller disk with a 12 kg mass and a larger disk with a 4 kg mass, leading to equations that represent the forces acting on each mass. The calculations reveal that the accelerations are negative, indicating that the 12 kg mass is accelerating downward while the 4 kg mass is moving upward. There is confusion regarding the units and dimensions in the equations, which complicates the understanding of the results. The moment of inertia for the disks is also mentioned as a crucial factor that was initially omitted from the calculations.
Sulla
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Determine the linear and angular acceleration of the disks.

A diagram is illustrated as having a small disk (radius 1m) with a rope hanging on its edge with a mass of 12 kg attached to it. Another pulley disk (radius 2m) surrounds the smaller and first one; it has a rope attached to a 4 kg mass.


This is what I have so far:

T1 - m1g = m1a1
= t1-117.6 = 12a1

m2g - T2 = m2a2
= 2 [39.2 - T2 = 4a2]
= 78.4 - 2T2=8a2

---
In order to find the accel., I calculated the velocity from the radii and distance using arc length.

d2= 2(theta)
d1= 1(theta)

d2/d1= 2(theta)
d2=2a1
v2=2v1
a2=2a1

a(tangential)= (alpha)r (alpha= angular accel.)
a2=2(alpha)
2a1=2(alpha)
(alpha) = a1

T1 - 177.6 = 12a1
78.4 - 2T2 = 8a2=8*2(alpha)=16(alpha)
+ 2T2 - T1 = 4a1
___________________________________

-39.2 = 32a1
a1= -1.225

a2= 2(-1.225)



Having done that...are the objects decelerating not accelerating? And have I completed all the steps correctly?
 
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can you show the information more clearly? i can't think of the picture
 
I hope this helps!
 

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Sulla said:
Determine the linear and angular acceleration of the disks.

A diagram is illustrated as having a small disk (radius 1m) with a rope hanging on its edge with a mass of 12 kg attached to it. Another pulley disk (radius 2m) surrounds the smaller and first one; it has a rope attached to a 4 kg mass.


This is what I have so far:

T1 - m1g = m1a1
= t1-117.6 = 12a1

m2g - T2 = m2a2
= 2 [39.2 - T2 = 4a2]
= 78.4 - 2T2=8a2

---
In order to find the accel., I calculated the velocity from the radii and distance using arc length.

d2= 2(theta)
d1= 1(theta)

d2/d1= 2(theta) <<== theta?
d2=2a1 <<== d2 and a1 have different dimensions. This is impossible.
v2=2v1
a2=2a1

a(tangential)= (alpha)r (alpha= angular accel.)
a2=2(alpha) <<== a2 and alpha have different dimensions. This is impossible.

2a1=2(alpha)
(alpha) = a1 <<== a1 and alpha have different dimensions. This is impossible.
T1 - 177.6 = 12a1 <<== dimensions?

78.4 - 2T2 = 8a2=8*2(alpha)=16(alpha)
+ 2T2 - T1 = 4a1
___________________________________

-39.2 = 32a1
a1= -1.225

a2= 2(-1.225)



Having done that...are the objects decelerating not accelerating? And have I completed all the steps correctly?
You may have gotten the right answer, but you certainly did not do things "correctly". When you do not use units it makes it very difficult to follow your work.

If the system starts from rest it is speeding up. Whether the accelerations are positive or negative depends on the directions you chose to be positive when you set up your equations.
 
Assuming that up and right (y) are postive and down and left are negative (x), so the answer would still remain negative. Would that indicate that the object on the left (12 kg) is moving upwards while the object on the right (4 kg) is moving downwards? If the acceleration of both are negative wouldn't that indicated that both are moving in the same direction?
 
Sulla said:
Assuming that up and right (y) are postive and down and left are negative (x), so the answer would still remain negative. Would that indicate that the object on the left (12 kg) is moving upwards while the object on the right (4 kg) is moving downwards? If the acceleration of both are negative wouldn't that indicated that both are moving in the same direction?

In your original equations

T1 - m1g = m1a1
= t1-117.6 = 12a1

m2g - T2 = m2a2

you identified the 12kg mass as m1 and the 4kg mass as m2. Your first equation is written as positve upward. Your second equation is written as positive downward. This is a reasonable choice, since one mass will move upward and the other will move downward. Your negative answers for both accelerations just means that in fact the 12kg mass (m1) will accelerate downward while the 4kg mass (m2) will accelerate upward. The magnitude of the static (i.e., pulleys held in place) CCW torque, 12kg*1m*g, is greater than the magnitude of the static CW torque, 4kg*1m*g, so these directions are to be expected.

I don't see how you got your answer. Do the disks have mass? Is there a moment of inertia given?
 
I apologise, I left out the fact that I = 4 kg m^2 .
 
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