Speed/energy problem, could someone please check my work

  • Thread starter Thread starter munkachunka
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Check my work Work
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the energy and speed of a cola can rolling down a slope after a car travels 100m up. The potential energy at the top is calculated as 4.905 Joules, which converts to kinetic energy at the bottom. The speed of the can at the bottom is determined to be 9.9 m/s using the kinetic energy formula. A correction is made regarding the moment of inertia of the can, confirming that the initial calculations were correct. The conversation concludes with acknowledgment of the mistake and appreciation for the clarification.
munkachunka
Messages
36
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



when a car has traveled 100m up a 1 in 10 (sine slope) the driver stops and has a drink, he places an empty can of cola on the ground so that it can roll, the can weighs 50g and the radius of rotation k of the can is r

a, calculate the energy of the can at the top and bottom of the slope and the form it takes

b. calculate the speed of the can at the bottom of the slope

Homework Equations



E=1/2mv^2+1/2jw^2
Pe = MGH

The Attempt at a Solution



a, because the car has traveled 100m up the slope i calculated the height that the car was at. 100*1/10 = 10m

50 grams = 0.050gk

potential energy = mgh = 0.050*9.8*10 = 4.905Joules,

answer to a = potential energy at the top of 4.905Joules, this energy is changed to kinetic energy at the bottom and is also 4.905Joules

b, Kinetic energy gained ...E=1/2mv^2+1/2Jw^2

= E=1/2mv^2+1/2mk^2*w^2... where m = mass and K= radius of gyration

motion without slip w=v/r
= E=1/2mv^2+1/2mk^2*(v^2/r^2)

because the question states that the radius of rotaion of the can =r, I set these terms to 1

therefore E=1/2mv^2+1/2m*v^2

E=0.025*v^2+0.025*v^2
4.905=0.05v^2
98.1=v^2
v=9.9m/s

thankyou
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Everything looks good except I think should be J = 1/2 mk^2... I think you made a mistake when substituting this into 1/2 Jw^2. that'll change you numbers afterwards.
 
thanks for your reply, not quite sure what you mean though.
 
munkachunka said:
thanks for your reply, not quite sure what you mean though.

b, Kinetic energy gained ...E=1/2mv^2+1/2Jw^2

= E=1/2mv^2+1/2mk^2*w^2... where m = mass and K= radius of gyration

Can you describe how you got from the first line to the second...
 
yeah, point taken, yet another silly mistake that I am prone to making
 
having a look thrugh a textbook it turns out that I am not sure what is correct.

the book says E=1/2mv^2+1/2Jw^2 = E=1/2mv^2+1/2mk^2*w^2

please comment
 
I apologize munkachunka. I was wrong. :redface: The textbook is right. The moment of inertia of a thin hollow cylinder is I = mr^2 (not I = 1/2 mr^2 as I thought).

So everything in your initial post is correct. Sorry about that.
 
Last edited:
no problem, thanks again for your help
 
munkachunka said:
no problem, thanks again for your help

you're welcome.
 
Back
Top