Question About Rotational And Translational Motion

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the dynamics of rotational and translational motion, specifically addressing the conditions under which a wheel or ball rotates without friction. It is established that when Vcm (center of mass velocity) equals ωR (angular velocity times radius), the object can rotate without slipping if it transitions from sliding to rolling. The conversation highlights the role of friction in energy conservation and the transition from kinetic to rolling motion, emphasizing that static friction prevents energy loss during rolling, while dynamic friction causes energy dissipation as heat during sliding.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of rotational dynamics and translational motion
  • Familiarity with concepts of friction, including static and dynamic friction
  • Knowledge of angular velocity and its relationship to linear velocity
  • Basic principles of energy conservation in mechanical systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the relationship between linear velocity and angular velocity in rolling motion
  • Explore the effects of different coefficients of friction on motion dynamics
  • Learn about energy dissipation mechanisms in sliding versus rolling objects
  • Investigate the mathematical modeling of rotational motion using torque equations
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of motion dynamics, particularly in relation to friction and energy conservation in rotating systems.

ZxcvbnM2000
Messages
62
Reaction score
1
1) When there is no friction , a wheel with a Vcm = X m/s will only be slipping across the surface at a constant velocity.It won't be rotating because there will not be any forces creating torque.

2) The system ( composed of the rotating object ) always tries to find a balance between Rotational and Translational energy so the friction will change direction if Vcm > ωR ( then it will be opposite to the vector of Vcm in order for the rotational energy to be increased) and when Vcm<ωR then the friction will be in the same direction as Vcm , preventing the rotational speed to increase and increasing Vcm instead.

3) So how can a wheel rotate when Vcm = ωR ?? Since no friction is supposed to exist ?!

4) Let's assume that there is a stationary ball of mass M and Radius R on a rough surface(i.e μς=0.1). We give that ball a small push and as a result its centre of mass moves with Vcm = 2m/s.
i) How can we find whether the ball's movements until it stops ? Will it ever stop ? is energy conserved ( if the ball is our system)? What about heat dissipation ?
ii) Won't the static coefficient become smaller ( kinetic coefficient) ? What about that ?

So many questions about this subject which i can't answer one my own so i am asking for your help ! Please do not delete my post again as this isn't a Homework Assignment!

Thank you very much :-)
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi ZxcvbnM2000! :smile:
ZxcvbnM2000 said:
2) The system ( composed of the rotating object ) always tries to find a balance between Rotational and Translational energy so the friction will change direction if Vcm > ωR ( then it will be opposite to the vector of Vcm in order for the rotational energy to be increased) and when Vcm<ωR then the friction will be in the same direction as Vcm , preventing the rotational speed to increase and increasing Vcm instead.

yes :smile:
1) When there is no friction , a wheel with a Vcm = X m/s will only be slipping across the surface at a constant velocity.It won't be rotating because there will not be any forces creating torque.

not true … it can have any angular velocity
3) So how can a wheel rotate when Vcm = ωR ?? Since no friction is supposed to exist ?!

see previous answer :wink:
4) Let's assume that there is a stationary ball of mass M and Radius R on a rough surface(i.e μς=0.1). We give that ball a small push and as a result its centre of mass moves with Vcm = 2m/s.
i) How can we find whether the ball's movements until it stops ? Will it ever stop ? is energy conserved ( if the ball is our system)? What about heat dissipation ?
ii) Won't the static coefficient become smaller ( kinetic coefficient) ? What about that ?

initially it will slide, but it will very quickly lose enough energy to start rolling

once it is rolling, there will be no further loss of energy through friction (though there will be through rolling resistance, which essentially is the energy consumed by the continual deformation of the ball)
 
tiny-tim said:
Hi ZxcvbnM2000! :smile:


yes :smile:


not true … it can have any angular velocity


see previous answer :wink:


initially it will slide, but it will very quickly lose enough energy to start rolling

once it is rolling, there will be no further loss of energy through friction (though there will be through rolling resistance, which essentially is the energy consumed by the continual deformation of the ball)

i might be a retard for not understanding this but how do you know that it will slide first ? How do i know that ?

Thank you for your time :)
 
It has a velocity, but no initial rotation. As all forces are finite, the angular velocity cannot make "jumps" and needs some time to reach the value required for rolling.
 
Thank you !
 
" not true … it can have any angular velocity "

One last thing and i will stop bothering you i promise :p Can you explain that a bit ?

Also,Okay i understand that the point that is in contact every time with the surface is NOT moving . I understand the conditions etc but WHAT is making the ball to roll Γ = Ια but Γ is a vector and equal to FR , where is that F then ?

Please forgive any spelling/grammar mistakes it's not my first language . Thanks :)
 
ZxcvbnM2000 said:
" not true … it can have any angular velocity "

One last thing and i will stop bothering you i promise :p Can you explain that a bit ?

Also,Okay i understand that the point that is in contact every time with the surface is NOT moving . I understand the conditions etc but WHAT is making the ball to roll Γ = Ια but Γ is a vector and equal to FR , where is that F then ?

Please forgive any spelling/grammar mistakes it's not my first language . Thanks :)
Ignoring any other torques and forces besides those related to friction, F can be either static friction or dynamic friction.

If the wheel/disk/ball is sliding relative to the surface, the friction is dynamic friction. The wheel/disk/ball will lose energy because of this. The wheel's kinetic energy changes form to heat energy. The frictional force will have such a direction to v tends toward ω/R, but since the wheel/disk/ball is sliding, it's not there yet.

If the wheel/disk/ball is rolling along the surface (but not sliding), then v = ωR, and x = θR. Any residual static frictional force keeps it that way. But since the part of the ball/disk/wheel touching the surface is not moving relative to the surface, no work is done. Remember, ΔW = FΔx. But since the relative Δx = 0, the work done by the frictional force is zero too. The wheel/ball/disk loses no energy due to friction/heat in this case.
 
Last edited:
Hi ZxcvbnM2000! :smile:

(just got up :zzz:)
ZxcvbnM2000 said:
" not true … it can have any angular velocity "

since there's no friction, there's no external torque, and therefore no angular acceleration

ie, the wheel will keep the same angular speed as it had at the start

if eg it was rolling at 30 mph when the road turned into ice, both the linear speed and the angular speed will stay the same …

it will look as if it is still rollling! :smile:

(however, if the ice is sloping, the linear speed will change, but the angular speed won't :wink:)
Also,Okay i understand that the point that is in contact every time with the surface is NOT moving . I understand the conditions etc but WHAT is making the ball to roll Γ = Ια but Γ is a vector and equal to FR , where is that F then ?

α in your example is 0, so the ball rolls because it was already rolling

if α is changing, that is caused by the torque (FR) of the friction force (either backward or forward)

FR is the magnitude of the vector R x F (strictly, a pseudovector, since it's a cross product of two vectors), along the axle of the wheel (perpendicular to both F and R)
collinsmark said:
If the wheel/disk/ball is rolling along the surface (but not sliding), then … since the part of the ball/disk/wheel touching the surface is not moving relative to the surface, no work is done.

lots of people say this (and there's been discussions on it in the forum),

but its not true … the friction from the road on an accelerating car is the only (horizontal) external force …

so if it's not doing work, where is all the extra kinetic energy coming from? :wink:
 
Thank you all very much :)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 60 ·
3
Replies
60
Views
5K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
4K
  • · Replies 133 ·
5
Replies
133
Views
12K