Rotational motion and angular momentum

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculations involving rotational motion and angular momentum, specifically addressing a system with a ball and putty. The moment of inertia is calculated as 0.253125 kg.m², leading to an angular velocity of 0.148 rad/s. Kinetic energy calculations reveal a significant difference between initial and final states, with a final kinetic energy ratio of approximately 0.0123 after correcting for rounding errors. The conversation also explores the behavior of a pendulum, concluding that an initial push increases the height reached due to conservation of energy principles. The final consensus emphasizes the need for precise calculations to avoid rounding errors and correctly interpret the rotational angle.
hquang001
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Homework Statement
Two 2.00 kg balls are attached to the ends of a thin rod of length 50.0 cm and negligible mass. The rod is free to rotate in a vertical plane without friction about a horizontal axis through its center. With the rod initially horizontal, a 50.0 g wad of wet putty drops onto one of the balls, hitting it with a speed of 3.00 m/s and then sticking to it.
(a) What is the angular speed of the system just after the putty wad hits?
(b) What is the ratio of the kinetic energy of the system after the collision to that of the putty wad just before?
( c) Through what angle will the system rotate before it momentarily stops?
Relevant Equations
[tex] L_{initial} = L_{final} [/tex]
[tex] K_{initial} + PE_{initial} = K_{final} + PE_{final} [/tex]
mball = 2 kg, mputty = 0.05 kg, L = 0.5 m, v = 3m/s
a) Moment of inertia : I = (2mball + mputty ). ¼ L^2 = 0.253125 kg.m^2

Linitial = Lfinal => mputty. v. r = I.ω => ω = (4.mputty.v.r) / I = 0.148 rad/s

b) K initial = 1/2 m v^2 = 0.225 J
K final = 1/2 Iω^2 = 2.85.10^(-3) J => Kfinal / Kinitial = 0.013

c) Using conservation of energy :K initial +PE initial = K final + PE final
1/2 I.ω^2 + 0 = 0 + (mball + mputty).g.(-h) + mball.g.h
158053457_296620081898095_8345120285906046267_n.jpg

1/2 I.ω^2 = (2.05).g. (-sinΘ . L/2 ) + (2).g.(sinΘ . L/2)
=> 1/2 I.ω^2 = g.sinΘ . L/2 . (2 - 2.05) => Θ = -1.3°
I think the angle should be larger than 180 => 180° - (-1.3°) = 181°

I don't know if my answer for question c is correct or not
 
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It all looks right. It should definitely be 181.3°, of course.
 
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Edit - typo's corrected.

If you release a simple pendulum (negligible friction/air resistance) what height does it reach on the other side, and why?

If you give the same pendulum a small downwards push at the moment of release, what can you say about the height it reaches on the other side, and why?

I get a very slightly different answer to you for part b). This could be caused by a small rounding error in your calculation. (Don't use rounded values in intermediate steps.) Your working isn't clear enough for me to check what you've done in detail but the method is OK.

As noted by @PeroK, you are asked through what angle the system rotates - not what angle it makes relative to its starting position.
 
Steve4Physics said:
If you release a simple pendulum (negligible friction/air resistance) what height does it reach on the other side, and why?
I think it should reach the same height because there is no outside force. we can proof it by using conservation of energy
PE initial = PE final => mgh1 = mgh2 => h1 = h2
Steve4Physics said:
If you give the same pendulum a small downwards push at the moment of release, what can you say about the height it reaches on the other side, and why?
Does it reach greater height than original height ? I'm not sure about this
Steve4Physics said:
I get a very slightly different answer to you for part b). This could be caused by a small rounding error in your calculation. (Don't use rounded values in intermediate steps.) Your working isn't clear enough for me to check what you've done in detail but the method is OK.

- for part b). yes you're right. As i rounded the value of angular speed 0.148 to 0.15 rad/s so the answer is not quite correct. The final kinetic energy should be 2.77.10^(-3) J => the ratio is 0.0123
 
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hquang001 said:
Does it [a pendulum] reach greater height than original height [if given an initial push] ? I'm not sure about this
If you are holding a pendulum (at an angle) and give it an initial push, it will reach a bigger height compared to merely releasing it. The extra gravitational potential energy equals the extra initial kinetic energy you gave it (conservation of energy).

Applying the same argument to the original problem, you should see that the rod must rotate more than 180º, not less.

And you've sorted out the rounding error. Yay!
 
@hquang001 here's a way to avoid rounding errors.

Let ##r## be half the length of the rod, ##m## the mass of the putty, ##M## the mass of each ball, ##u## the initial speed of the putty and ##v## the speed of each ball immediately after the collision.
$$L_i = mur = (2M + m)vr = L_f $$ $$\therefore v = \mu u, \ \text{where} \ \mu = \frac{m}{2M+m}$$
For part a): $$\omega = \frac{v}{r} = \frac{\mu u}{ r}$$
For part b): $$\frac{KE_f}{KE_i} = \frac{(2M+m)v^2}{mu^2} = \frac{1}{\mu}\mu^2 = \mu$$
 
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