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andyrk
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Why does tension across a rod rotating horizontally vary when it is rotating about one end?
The acceleration along a rotating rod isn't constant.andyrk said:each part needs to have the same acceleration
What prevents you from considering parts of equal mass?andyrk said:despite having different masses
Yes. So what you are saying is that every point has different centripetal acceleration. So how can tension at one point play the role of centripetal force for all points behind it? Isn't it supposed to be just for that point only?Chestermiller said:What you want to do is to focus on a small segment of the rod between x and x + dx. The mass of this segment is mdx/L, where L is the length of the rod and m is its mass. If you do a force balance on this segment of the rod, you obtain:
$$T(x+dx)-T(x)=-(ω^2x)\left(m\frac{dx}{L}\right)$$
or
$$\frac{dT}{dx}=-\frac{m}{L}ω^2x$$
Note that the tension T decreases with radial position x.
Chet
While true, it's not the key to variable tension. You should first try to understand a rod accelerated linearly by pulling one end. Here, the acceleration is constant along the rod, but the tension still varies.andyrk said:So what you are saying is that every point has different centripetal acceleration.
What else would provide the centripetal force to the rest of the rod beyond that point?andyrk said:So how can tension at one point play the role of centripetal force for all points behind it?
Yes.andyrk said:Yes. So what you are saying is that every point has different centripetal acceleration.
I don't quite follow what you are saying here. I know you are aware that a geometric point has zero mass, so no net force is required to accelerate it. If you focus on a segment of the rod between x and x + dx, it does have mass, and the net force acting on it is T(x+dx) - T(x). So the tension is changing along the rod to provide a net force on every differential segment. If you add up the centripetal forces necessary to accelerate all the segments of the rod outboard of location x, you get T(x):So how can tension at one point play the role of centripetal force for all points behind it? Isn't it supposed to be just for that point only?
I got what I was looking for. Basically, that tension force isn't acting on the the particle at x or x + dx etc. Instead it is acting at the COM of the remaining part of the rod so the rod gets treated as a single point and hence we have the centripetal force equation for a single particle and not the other way round like: one tension force and different particles have different x so which x do we put in the centripetal force equation, which is what was confusing me initially. Makes sense now. :)Chestermiller said:Yes.
I don't quite follow what you are saying here. I know you are aware that a geometric point has zero mass, so no net force is required to accelerate it. If you focus on a segment of the rod between x and x + dx, it does have mass, and the net force acting on it is T(x+dx) - T(x). So the tension is changing along the rod to provide a net force on every differential segment. If you add up the centripetal forces necessary to accelerate all the segments of the rod outboard of location x, you get T(x):
$$T(x)=\frac{mω^2L}{2}\left[1-\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)^2\right]$$
Hope this makes sense.
Chet
Not really, tension acts at the inner end of the remaining part of the rod.andyrk said:nstead it is acting at the COM of the remaining part of the rod
Of course it does. But when we want to write the centripetal force equation, we say the mass is concentrated at the COM...and so we just have one x instead of many x's all along the rod.A.T. said:Not really, tension acts at the inner end of the remaining part of the rod.
So Andy, when you apply this algorithm to get the tension at location x, T(x), do you get the same answer as I obtained in post #13 by integrating the differential equation that takes into account the "many x's all along the rod?"andyrk said:Of course it does. But when we want to write the centripetal force equation, we say the mass is concentrated at the COM...and so we just have one x instead of many x's all along the rod.
Qwertywerty said:When we say Com , we mean the Com of the part on which tension acts as a centripetal force .
Chet , yes you do .
Look at the strip at the bottom of each post, with a group of words shown in very light lettering. One of the words is Reply. Click on Reply, and the post will be copied into your "Have something to add" area, including with proper LaTex punctuation.Could you please tell me how to quote somebody ?
Chestermiller said:Ah. I see it now. Thanks. Still, I would feel uncomfortable doing the problem this macroscopic way, and not by the microscopic balance.
Look at the strip at the bottom of each post, with a group of words shown in very light lettering. One of the words is Reply. Click on Reply, and the post will be copied into your "Have something to add" area, including with proper LaTex punctuation.
Chet
I didn't try it but I think it should.Chestermiller said:So Andy, when you apply this algorithm to get the tension at location x, T(x), do you get the same answer as I obtained in post #13 by integrating the differential equation that takes into account the "many x's all along the rod?"
Chet
You say this, and I already told you it's wrong. If you hold a bag by the handles and swing it around, you apply the centripetal force at the handles, not at the COM of the bag. But the COM acceleration determines how much centripetal force you have to apply.andyrk said:why do we say that centripetal force acting at COM is T(x)?
Why?A.T. said:But the COM acceleration determines how much centripetal force you have to apply.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mechanics/n2ext.htmlandyrk said:Why?
Twertywerty already confirmed this, and I have shown it also.andyrk said:I didn't try it but I think it should.
T(x) is not the tension at the center of mass. T(x) is the tension at any arbitrary location x along the rod. The center of mass of the portion of the rod outboard of location x is at (x + L)/2. The mass of the rod outboard of location x is (L-x)m/L. So,Also I was just a bit confused as to why is the tension force T(x) same at x as well as COM? If it isn't then why do we say that centripetal force acting at COM is T(x)?
Thanks!A.T. said:
Rotating Rod Tension refers to the tension or force applied to a rod that is rotating around a fixed axis. This concept is important in scientific research as it helps us understand the relationship between tension and rotation angle, which can have practical applications in fields such as material science, mechanics, and engineering.
The tension of a rotating rod is directly proportional to the sine of the rotation angle. This means that as the rotation angle increases, the tension also increases, and as the rotation angle decreases, the tension decreases.
The tension of a rotating rod can be affected by various factors such as the material and thickness of the rod, the speed of rotation, and the distance from the axis of rotation. Additionally, external forces or constraints can also impact the tension of the rod.
Rotating Rod Tension can be measured using a tension meter or by attaching weights to the rod and observing the deflection. It can also be calculated using mathematical equations that take into account the above-mentioned factors and the known properties of the rod.
Understanding the relationship between Rotating Rod Tension and rotation angle can have practical applications in various fields such as designing and testing mechanical components, predicting the behavior of materials under tension, and developing new technologies that involve rotation and tension. It can also help in optimizing and improving existing systems that involve rotating rods.