Simple problem involving pulley with mass

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a descending pulley system with a disc-shaped pulley, where the radius and moment of inertia are provided. The goal is to find the acceleration of a block attached to the pulley, with specific masses and conditions outlined.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply Newton's laws and torque equations to analyze the system, but expresses confusion over the results obtained. Participants inquire about the calculations and the discrepancies between the original poster's results and the expected answer.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's analysis, asking for clarification on the calculations and the results. There is a recognition of differing answers, with some participants suggesting that the original poster's approach seems reasonable while questioning the validity of the provided answer key.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of a discrepancy between the calculated acceleration of the block and the answer provided in an answer key, which is not accompanied by a solution. This raises questions about the accuracy of the answer key and the assumptions made in the problem setup.

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Homework Statement


The descending pulley (disc shaped) shown in the figure have a radius 20 cm and moment of inertia 0.20 kg-m2. The fixed pulley is light and the horizontal plane frictionless. Find the acceleration of the block if its mass is 1.0 kg.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


The moment of inertia for a disc about its CoM is: ##\frac{MR^2}{2}##. Equating this with 0.2 kg-m2 and substituting R=0.2 m, M=10 kg.

Let T2 and T1 be the tensions in the strings. T2 on the left of disc and T1 on right of disc.

If A is the acceleration of disc, then 2A is the acceleration of disc. Also, let ##\alpha## be the angular acceleration of disc the direction of which is anti-clockwise.

Newton's second law on disc: ##10g-(T_1+T_2)=10A## and for block: ##T_2=2A## (mass of block is 1 kg).

Torque about CM of disc: ##(T_1-T_2)R=I\alpha \Rightarrow (T_1-T_2)(0.2)=(0.2)\alpha \Rightarrow T_1-T_2=\alpha##.

Next is equating the acceleration along the string. The point of contact of string with the disc on the left goes down with an acceleration of ##A+\alpha R##. Hence, ##A+\alpha R=2A##.

I have enough equations but solving these equations gives me a wrong answer. :confused:

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 

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Your analysis seems reasonable. What did you get for the acceleration of the disc? (And what was the "right" answer?)
 
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Hi Pranav...

It looks alright to me .What is the correct answer and the answer you are getting?
 
Doc Al said:
Your analysis seems reasonable. What did you get for the acceleration of the disc? (And what was the "right" answer?)

Tanya Sharma said:
Hi Pranav...

It looks alright to me .What is the correct answer and the answer you are getting?

Hi Doc Al and Tanya! :)

I had ##A+\alpha R=2A \Rightarrow \alpha=5A##. Since ##T_1-T_2=\alpha## and ##T_2=2A##, we have ##T_1=7A##.

From Newton's second law on disc: ##10g-(T_1+T_2)=10A \Rightarrow 10g-9A=10A \Rightarrow A=10g/19##.

Hence, acceleration of block is ##2A=20g/19=10.31 \,\, m/s^2##.

The given answer is ##5.96 \,\, m/s^2##.
 
10.31 ms-2 is the correct answer :smile: .
 
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Tanya Sharma said:
10.31 ms-2 is the correct answer :smile: .
Thanks for the check! :)

The answer key seems to give acceleration of the disc .

It doesn't look so. The acceleration of disc comes out to be 5.15 m/s^2.
 
Pranav-Arora said:
Hence, acceleration of block is ##2A=20g/19=10.31 \,\, m/s^2##.
I agree with that answer.

The given answer is ##5.96 \,\, m/s^2##.
I don't know what that's supposed to be. Did they give a solution, or just an answer?
 
Doc Al said:
I don't know what that's supposed to be. Did they give a solution, or just an answer?

Only the answer. :(
 

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