Sliding Rod and Rotating Disc Question

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a uniform rod connected to a uniform disc, both situated in a vertical plane and released from a specific angle. The discussion focuses on drawing free-body diagrams and determining the acceleration of a point on the rod at the moment of release, considering the dynamics of the system and the forces acting on it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of free-body diagrams and the implications of initial conditions on the system's dynamics. Questions arise regarding the relationship between angular and linear accelerations, and the challenges of dealing with multiple unknowns in the equations of motion.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the setup and the relationships between different forces and accelerations. Some guidance has been provided regarding the number of equations needed to solve for the unknowns, and there is an ongoing exploration of how to approach the moment equilibrium for the system.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted confusion regarding the application of rotational equilibrium, particularly in relation to the center of gravity of the rod, which is not fixed. This highlights the complexity of the problem and the need for careful consideration of reference points in dynamic scenarios.

aerograce
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Homework Statement


A uniform rod AB of length L and mass m1 is connected by a pin joint to the center of a
uniform disc of radius R and mass m2.
The system is placed in a vertical plane (as shown in Figure 2) and released from rest with
θ=45°.
(a) Draw the free-body diagrams for the rod and the disc.
(b) Find the acceleration of the point B at the instant when the system is released.
You may assume that the pin joint and the vertical wall are frictionless, and the disc rolls
without slipping on the horizontal ground.

Homework Equations


T=Iα;
[a][/B]=[a][/A] + w×(w×[r][/(B/A)]+w'×[r][/(B/A)]

The Attempt at a Solution


My attempt is to first use equilibrium to calculate the static friction force acting on the ground and then through fR=T=Iα to calculate the angular acceleration of point A. This will then help us obtain acceleration of A. Then use the above formula to relate acceleration of B to acceleration of A. But I realize this may be untrue since the system is not in equilibrium initially.
 

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aerograce said:
I realize this may be untrue since the system is not in equilibrium initially.
Quite so, that will not work.
Did you draw the free body diagrams?
List the forces acting on each (including directions).
Let the initial angular acceleration of the disk be ##\alpha##. What is its horizontal acceleration?
What accelerations does that imply for the rod?
What equations can you write down relating these accelerations to the forces?
 
Hello. I have drawn free body diagram as follow. The horizontal acceleration of a will be α*R. And this acceleration can be related to point B with formula
[a][/B]=[a][/A] + w×(w×[r][/(B/A)]+w'×[r][/(B/A)]. But I think when I write down equations, I discover too many unknowns to be solved. Could you explain a bit more to me? Thank you so much for your time
 

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aerograce said:
Hello. I have drawn free body diagram as follow. The horizontal acceleration of a will be α*R. And this acceleration can be related to point B with formula
[a][/B]=[a][/A] + w×(w×[r][/(B/A)]+w'×[r][/(B/A)]. But I think when I write down equations, I discover too many unknowns to be solved. Could you explain a bit more to me? Thank you so much for your time
You should have six unknowns: four normal forces, a frictional force and an acceleration. (Or maybe more accelerations, but they're all determinable by anyone of them.)
There are six equations: X, Y and moments for each of the two objects. Should be enough.
 
haruspex said:
You should have six unknowns: four normal forces, a frictional force and an acceleration. (Or maybe more accelerations, but they're all determinable by anyone of them.)
There are six equations: X, Y and moments for each of the two objects. Should be enough.

May I know, when writing the rotational equilibrium equation, should I list moment equilibrium about its center of gravity? I am confused because since center of gravity of the link AB is not a fixed point, if write moment equilibrium about its center of gravity, the angular acceleration has to be about its center of gravity too, but the center of gravity itself is moving. This sometimes confuses me when exam questions ask me to decide angular acceleration or angular velocity of a certain link, I find it not a correct expression coz it didnt specify angular acceleration or velocity about which point.

Hope you can clarify my doubts! Thank you so much
 
aerograce said:
May I know, when writing the rotational equilibrium equation, should I list moment equilibrium about its center of gravity? I am confused because since center of gravity of the link AB is not a fixed point, if write moment equilibrium about its center of gravity, the angular acceleration has to be about its center of gravity too, but the center of gravity itself is moving. This sometimes confuses me when exam questions ask me to decide angular acceleration or angular velocity of a certain link, I find it not a correct expression coz it didnt specify angular acceleration or velocity about which point.

Hope you can clarify my doubts! Thank you so much
I assume you did not mean 'equilibrium' here.
In a dynamic set-up, safest is to take moments about a point fixed in space. Taking moments of forces acting on a rigid body about that body's mass centre should also be fine, as is taking moments about the body's instantaneous centre of rotation. Anything else may produce a wrong answer. See section 5 in https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/frequently-made-errors-mechanics-moments/
 

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