Required tension of rope around a cylinder to hold a object.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the required tension in a rope tied around a vertical cylinder to hold a mass. The subject area includes concepts of tension, friction, and forces acting on objects in contact with curved surfaces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand the relationship between tension and the perpendicular force acting on the mass due to friction. They question whether the perpendicular force is simply equal to the tension in the rope.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided clarifications regarding the relationship between tension and the forces acting on the mass. There is an acknowledgment that accurate dimensions are necessary for a complete analysis, and multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of specific dimensions for the mass and the cylinder, which affects the ability to calculate the forces involved accurately. The original poster's assumptions about friction and tension are also under discussion.

kaar
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please see attached drawing. I am trying to understand how this would work.

Imagine a vertical cylinder of diameter "D". I would like to tie a mass M to it, using a rope. what is the tension "T" that is required on the rope?

I assume the force required will depend on the coefficient of friction between the cylinder and the mass, let us assume that to be "mu".

but in this case, friction force = mu * force perpendicular to the cylinder surface

how to calculate this perpendicular force? is it just equal to the tension T? I am confused because when a rope goes though a pully we always assume tension to be tangential to the pully at any given point...

any clarifications of my understanding is welcome!
 

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Last edited:
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I have redrawn the problem a bit, I think the physics remains the same. Hope this helps.
 

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You wrote,

is it just equal to the tension T?

No in general. I think you would have to accurate dimensions of the mass M to calculate what fraction of T presses mass M against the cylinder. My sketch above takes liberty with the dimensions as none were given.
 
That clarified my doubt..thanks.
 

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