Rigid body/ force applied on a wheel

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on determining the critical angle at which a wheel with a radius R and a smaller circle of radius r, over which a cord is wound, changes its rolling direction when a force is applied. The user attempts to solve the problem using principles of rotational dynamics and static friction, ultimately deriving the frictional force equation. The user concludes that the frictional force remains negative regardless of the angle θ, indicating a consistent direction of friction during motion. The analysis reveals the complexity of the relationship between applied force, friction, and the wheel's motion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of rotational dynamics and static friction
  • Familiarity with Newton's laws of motion
  • Knowledge of angular momentum and its conservation
  • Basic proficiency in calculus for deriving equations of motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of static friction in rotational systems
  • Learn about the dynamics of rolling motion and critical angles
  • Explore the derivation of angular momentum equations in complex systems
  • Investigate the effects of varying forces on the motion of rigid bodies
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, particularly those studying mechanics, engineers working with mechanical systems, and anyone interested in the dynamics of rigid body motion.

fluidistic
Gold Member
Messages
3,934
Reaction score
286
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 [tex]\frac{dP}{dt}=Ma_{cm}=F_E=Fcos \theta +F_{\text {friction}}[/tex].
And [tex]\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[/tex].
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, [tex]L_{\text {my center of momentum}}=L_{\text {orbital}}+L_{\text {spin}}[/tex]. From which I can say [tex]\frac{dL}{dt}=[/tex][tex]\frac{dL_{\text {orbital}}}{dt}[/tex][tex]+\frac{dL_{\text {spin}}} {dt}[/tex].
Now comes the big calculus... I'll not go through details.
I got that [tex]\frac{dL_{\text {orbital}}}{dt}=-Mr \cos \theta a_{cm} k[/tex]. And [tex]\frac{dL_{\text {spin}}}{dt}=I\alpha =\frac{MR^2 \alpha }{2}[/tex]. I must find [tex]\alpha[/tex].
With the condition of rolling, [tex]\alpha=-\frac{a_{cm}}{R}[/tex]. Thus [tex]\frac{dL_{\text {spin}}}{dt}=-\frac{MRa_{cm}}{2}k[/tex].
Now I can write [tex]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})[/tex], replacing [tex]a_{cm}[/tex] by its value I finally get that [tex]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 )[/tex], which I believe is always negative, meaning that the frictional force never changes of direction no matter what [tex]\theta[/tex] is worth. I made at least a mistake...
 

Attachments

  • escanear0004.jpg
    escanear0004.jpg
    9.4 KB · Views: 499
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
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.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
67
Views
5K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Replies
46
Views
7K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K