Rigid body/ force applied on a wheel

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a physics problem related to a wheel with a cord and an applied force, focusing on determining the critical angle at which the wheel rolls in different directions. The user expresses frustration with incorrect answers despite understanding the process, detailing their approach involving momentum and frictional forces. They analyze the equations of motion, noting the complexities of rotation and translation, and derive expressions for the frictional force. The user acknowledges a potential mistake regarding the moment of the applied force after the wheel starts moving, indicating a need for further review. The conversation highlights the challenges of applying theoretical concepts to practical problems in rigid body dynamics.
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Hi PF,
I'm a bit disappointed because the final exam is coming up next Monday and I can't solve this problem. Not that I don't know how to proceed, but I just get a wrong answer.

Homework Statement


See figure to imagine the situation. This is about a wheel of radius R which contains a circle of radius r in its middle. A cord is enrolled over the circle and a force is exerted on the cord.
We observe that there's a critical angle (over the horizontal, of the force) such that the wheel roll in a different sense whether the angle is lesser than the critical angle or greater than it. Find the critical angle.

Homework Equations


In reality what happens is that I must find to what's equal the static friction force and equaling it to 0N. Whether it's negative or positive the wheel roll in a sense or the other.

The Attempt at a Solution


First I chose a center of momentum as being the point of application of the force applied on the circle.
I notice that the wheel suffer a rotation and a translation. So I can say that the equations of motion are different from 0. Precisely \frac{dP}{dt}=Ma_{cm}=F_E=Fcos \theta +F_{\text {friction}}.
And \frac{dL}{dt}=M_{externals}=M_{\text {frictional force}}=\vec r _{F_{\text {friction}}} \wedge \vec F_{\text {friction}}=[-r\sin \theta i -(R-r\cos \theta)j] \wedge F_{\text{friction}}i=(R-rcos \theta )F_{\text{friction}}k.
Why did I wrote that the momentums are only the momentum of the frictional force? Because according to my center of momentum, the momentum of the weight of the wheel cancels out with the normal reaction of the ground, and the momentum of the force applied on the circle is simply worth 0 because it is precisely applied on my center of momentums.

As it is a rotation and a translation, L_{\text {my center of momentum}}=L_{\text {orbital}}+L_{\text {spin}}. From which I can say \frac{dL}{dt}=\frac{dL_{\text {orbital}}}{dt}+\frac{dL_{\text {spin}}} {dt}.
Now comes the big calculus... I'll not go through details.
I got that \frac{dL_{\text {orbital}}}{dt}=-Mr \cos \theta a_{cm} k. And \frac{dL_{\text {spin}}}{dt}=I\alpha =\frac{MR^2 \alpha }{2}. I must find \alpha.
With the condition of rolling, \alpha=-\frac{a_{cm}}{R}. Thus \frac{dL_{\text {spin}}}{dt}=-\frac{MRa_{cm}}{2}k.
Now I can write L_{\text {my center of momentum}}=(R-rcos \theta )F_{\text{friction}}k=-Mr\cos \theta a_c{cm}k-\frac{MRa_{cm}}{2}k \Leftrightarrow F_{\text {friction}}=-Ma_{cm}(r\cos \theta +\frac{R}{2})(\frac{1}{R-r\cos \theta}), replacing a_{cm} by its value I finally get that F_{\text {friction}}=-M(\frac{F\cos \theta +F_{\text{friction}}}{})(r\cos \theta +\frac{R}{2})(\frac{1}{R-r\cos \theta}) \Leftrightarrow F_{\text{friction}}=- \left( Fr\cos ^2 \theta+\frac{FR\cos \theta}{2} \right ) \left ( \frac{2}{(2+2\cos \theta)+R)(R-r\cos \theta)} \right ), which I believe is always negative, meaning that the frictional force never changes of direction no matter what \theta is worth. I made at least a mistake...
 

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Nevermind! I just realized that as the wheel is moving, the moment of the force applied on the circle is not worth 0 after having started to move.
Well, I'll try again.
EDIT: Hmm, but the way I did it should work. It doesn't matter that the system will evolve. I described it initially, and the frictional force should have its definitive direction instantly after the wheel started to roll.
 
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