Small oscillations problem work shown

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a point mass sliding on a horizontal table connected to a massless spring, which is driven by a motor. The discussion focuses on deriving expressions for kinetic energy in Cartesian and polar coordinates, potential energy, and the Lagrangian of the system, as well as determining degrees of freedom and equations of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formulation of kinetic energy in both Cartesian and polar coordinates, with some expressing uncertainty about their calculations. There are inquiries about the degrees of freedom of the system and whether the radial motion can be classified as simple harmonic motion.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided partial work and are seeking clarification on specific points, such as the correct expressions for kinetic energy and the implications of constraints on degrees of freedom. There is a mix of attempts to derive equations and questions about assumptions related to the system's setup.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the system is constrained to a horizontal plane, leading to discussions about the implications for the degrees of freedom and the potential energy associated with the spring. There is also mention of the angular velocity being constant, which may affect the analysis.

johnq2k7
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A point of mass slides without friction on a horizontal table at one end of a massless spring of natural length a and spring const k as shown in the figure below. The other end of the spring is attached to the table so it can rotate freely without friction. The spring is driven by a motor beneath the table so that the spring and mass are constrained to move around the origin with angular frequency w(ignore any bending of the spring and assume it always remains radially outward from the origin)

a.) Using Cartesian coordinates, write down the expressions for the kinetic energy of the system.

b.) Change to a polar coordinate system using
x= r*cos (wt)
y= r*sin(wt)
where w is the angular velocity of the mass, and express your eq for the KE as a func. of
these new co-ord. Give also expression for the PE and Langrangian of the sys. (in polar
co-ord)

c.) How many D.O.F do you have for this system? Name them. Note angular velocity w is given, and therefore is const.

d.) Calculate the eq. of motion for r using the Langrange eq. for this system. Is the radial motion of a simple harmonic oscillator?


some of my work for a previous problem:
View attachment SolutionsH3.doc






 
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johnq2k7 said:
A point of mass slides without friction on a horizontal table at one end of a massless spring of natural length a and spring const k as shown in the figure below. The other end of the spring is attached to the table so it can rotate freely without friction. The spring is driven by a motor beneath the table so that the spring and mass are constrained to move around the origin with angular frequency w(ignore any bending of the spring and assume it always remains radially outward from the origin)

a.) Using Cartesian coordinates, write down the expressions for the kinetic energy of the system.

b.) Change to a polar coordinate system using
x= r*cos (wt)
y= r*sin(wt)
where w is the angular velocity of the mass, and express your eq for the KE as a func. of
these new co-ord. Give also expression for the PE and Langrangian of the sys. (in polar
co-ord)

c.) How many D.O.F do you have for this system? Name them. Note angular velocity w is given, and therefore is const.

d.) Calculate the eq. of motion for r using the Langrange eq. for this system. Is the radial motion of a simple harmonic oscillator?


some of my work for a previous problem:
View attachment 21424

How about showing your work on *this* problem.
 
my work:

for a.) let v(t)= ( x(t), y(t), z(t))
v'(t)= (x'(t),y'(t),z'(t)
therefore T= 1/2*m*[(x'(t)^2 + y'(t)^2 + z'(t)^2]
I'm not sure if this is correct

for b.) if x= r*cost(wt) and y= r sin(wt) where w is angular velocity

need help here

langrangian is equal to T-U

for c.) need help i believe it's 3 degrees of freedom

d. need help
 
johnq2k7 said:
my work:

for a.) let v(t)= ( x(t), y(t), z(t))
v'(t)= (x'(t),y'(t),z'(t)
therefore T= 1/2*m*[(x'(t)^2 + y'(t)^2 + z'(t)^2]
I'm not sure if this is correct

If the particle is constrained to exist on a horizontal table, shouldn't z=\dot{z}=0? Then you should get

<br /> T=\frac{m}{2}\left(\dot{x}^2+\dot{y}^2\right)<br />

johnq2k7 said:
for b.) if x= r*cost(wt) and y= r sin(wt) where w is angular velocity

need help here

You will need to take the time derivatives of x and y in their polar form and then plug your given \dot{x} and \dot{y} into the kinetic energy above and reduce it as much as possible (remember your trigonometry and that \frac{d}{dt}(\cos\theta)=-\sin\theta\frac{d\theta}{dt})


johnq2k7 said:
for c.) need help i believe it's 3 degrees of freedom

Why would it be 3 degrees of freedom? The point mass exists only on the horizontal surface, so z=0[/itex]. This looks like it should be less than 3.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="johnq2k7" data-source="post: 2416868" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> johnq2k7 said: </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> d. need help </div> </div> </blockquote><br /> Well you have a conservative force, the spring. So then the potential is V=\frac{1}{2}kr^2. Then subtract this from the polar kinetic energy from part (b), there is your Lagrangian. After that, you can use your Euler-Lagrange equations of motion:<br /> <br /> &lt;br /&gt; \frac{d}{dt}\left(\frac{\partial L}{\partial\dot{q}}\right)-\frac{\partial L}{\partial q}=0&lt;br /&gt;
 

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