Sphere rolling down an incline problem.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a uniform solid sphere rolling down an incline, specifically focusing on determining its angular speed at the bottom of the slope after rolling a certain distance. The problem involves concepts from dynamics and rotational motion, including energy conservation and the relationship between linear and angular quantities.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various equations related to kinetic and potential energy, as well as the relationship between linear and angular motion. Some express uncertainty about which equations to apply and how to account for the rolling condition without slipping.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided insights and suggestions for refining the approach, including the importance of considering both linear and angular motion equations. There is an ongoing exploration of energy conservation principles and the role of friction in the problem, with no clear consensus yet on the correct path forward.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenge of integrating rotational dynamics with translational motion, and some express confusion regarding the application of specific equations under the non-slipping condition. The problem setup includes a specific incline angle and distance, which are critical to the calculations being discussed.

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Homework Statement


A uniform solid sphere, of radius 0.20 m, rolls without slipping 6.0 m down a ramp that is inclined at 28° with the horizontal. What is the angular speed of the sphere at the bottom of the slope if it starts from rest?

Homework Equations


KE=1/2Iw^2
PE=mgh
I don't know what to use for this.

The Attempt at a Solution


Ma = MgSin(28)-Ff[/B]
 
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Hi veg, welcome to PF.
Your attempt at a solution has fallen off the map, and there is some more needed under 2) relevant equations.

I hope you've done a few slip/non slip slope exercises and are familiar with the combination of rolling and accelerating ?

In that case you know that he kinetic energy equation you listed applies to rotation about a stationary axis. Here, however, the axis is moving down the slope, which accounts for a kinetic energy due to linear motion too: KE = 1/2 m v2. So revise the list of eqns and show your attempt at solution , please :)
 

Homework Statement


A uniform solid sphere, of radius 0.20 m, rolls without slipping 6.0 m down a ramp that is inclined at 28° with the horizontal. What is the angular speed of the sphere at the bottom of the slope if it starts from rest?

Homework Equations


w=(theta)/t
a=w/t
v=r(theta)/t
I don't know what to use for this.

The Attempt at a Solution


Acceleration = m(9.81m/s^2)(sin(28)) - Friction
At the end it did 6.0m/2pi(0.20m) revs over the time it took. (4.78rev/t)
from mgh=1/2mv^2+1/2Iw^2 i can get v^2=2gh/(1+I/mr^2)
I have no idea how to find the time from these variables.
 
Last edited:
Much better!
This way I can ask some pertinent questions that might help you to get going.

##\omega =\Delta \theta/t## is for average angular velocity. Not good here: we have some constant acceleration and some constant angular acceleration, and the coupling is established by the non-slipping condition, which you kind of mention: ##v = \omega r##.

Look up some equations for linear motion with constant acceleration plus some (surprisingly similar-looking) equations for angular motion with constant angular acceleration and see what you can use to get a grip on this nice exercise !

There might even be a shortcut possible: the time isn't asked for, so perhaps an energy balance (more equations still!) gets us to the answer in one fell swoop (provided it's a complete balance...) !
 
Ok i think i got it.
v=rw
x=r(theta)
a=r(angular a)

(9.81)(sin(28))/(0.20)=angular a=23
(theta)=6/0.20=30
w^2=2(23)(30)
[w=37.1] is this correct?
 
Acceleration = m(9.81m/s^2)(sin(28)) - Friction was better ! So ##\alpha## is alittle smaller than you think.

Friction is the one that causes the ball to rotate around its axis. Look up ##\tau = I\alpha## and ##\tau = r \times F##.

At the risk of repeating myself:
Look up some equations for linear motion with constant acceleration plus some (surprisingly similar-looking) equations for angular motion with constant angular acceleration and see what you can use to get a grip on this nice exercise !
 
Ok so what i did to try to find it is i took sin(28)*6 to find the height of at the start which is 2.82m
Then i did mgh=1/2mv^2 + 1/2Iw^2 which worked out to be 2gh=v^2
I got v as 7.438m/s and from that i did v/r=w
so i got w as 37.2m/s
I just need to convert it to rad/s
 
Last edited:
##mgh = {1\over 2} mv^2 + {1\over 2} I\omega^2\ \Rightarrow \ 2gh = v^2 + I\omega^2/m## is good. That's the energy balance.The ##2gh=v^2## that you worked out misses the rotation part and can't be right.
And then: re dimension: ##v=\omega r##, so with v in m/s and r in m, the quotient is in radians/s, not m/s.Since you have ##v=\omega r## you only need ##I## to crack this one. (No need to go via ##v## if they want ##\omega##)
 

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