Homework Help: Rolling motion in a special ramp

1. May 16, 2010

benf.stokes

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Assuming the sphere roles down without sliding prove that the acceleration of it's center of mass is:

$$a= \frac{g\cdot \sin(\theta)}{1+\frac{2}{5}\cdot \frac{1}{1-\frac{1}{4}\cdot \xi^2}}$$

$$Where \ \xi=\frac{L}{R}$$

Note that the moment of inertia of the sphere is:

$$I_{sphere}=\frac{2}{5}\cdot M\cdot R^2$$

2. Relevant equations

$$\tau= F\cdot r\cdot \sin(\varphi)$$

$$\alpha\cdot R=a$$

3. The attempt at a solution

The forces acting on the sphere are: the normal force, the force of gravity and the frictional force. The sum of the y components of the normal force will be equal to $$M\cdot g$$ and the sum of the x components will be 0. So that the sum of torques due to the normal force is zero as well as torques due to the sphere's weight.

$$\tau_{a}=F_{a}\cdot R\cdot \sin(\varphi)$$

Where we have by the figure:

$$\sin(\varphi)= \frac{\sqrt{R^2-(\frac{L}{2}^2)}}{R}= \sqrt{1-\frac{1}{4}\cdot \xi^2}$$

So we have that:

$$\left\{ \begin{array}{ccc} 2\cdot F_{a}\cdot R\cdot \sqrt{1-\frac{1}{4}\cdot \xi^2} & = & I\cdot \alpha \\ -2\cdot F_{a} + M\cdot g\cdot \sin(\theta) & = & M\cdot a \end{array} \right.$$

Which will yield:

$$F_{a}= \frac{I\cdot a}{2\cdot R^2\cdot \sqrt{1-\frac{1}{4}\cdot \xi^2}}$$

After some manipulation you arive to

$$a=\frac{M\cdot g\cdot \sin(\theta)}{M+\frac{I}{R^2\cdot \sqrt{1-\frac{1}{4}\cdot \xi^2}}}$$

Which after substituting I for it's value leads to:

$$a= \frac{g\cdot \sin(\theta)}{1+\frac{2}{5}\cdot \sqrt{\frac{1}{1-\frac{1}{4}\cdot \xi^2}}}$$

Can somebody please tell me where I've gone wrong

Last edited: May 16, 2010