Spinning block with decreasing radius

AI Thread Summary
A mass is whirling around a string that passes through a ring, with the string being pulled at a constant velocity, causing the radial distance to decrease. The initial conditions include a distance r0 and an angular velocity ω0. The correct expression for the radius over time is r = r0 - Vt, leading to the angular velocity formula ω(t) = ω0 r0^2 / (r0 - Vt)^2. The radial force on the block is given by Fr = m(r0 - Vt)ω^2. The discussion confirms that angular momentum is conserved and that the problem can be solved without resorting to differential equations.
Buffu
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Homework Statement



A mass ##m## whirls around on a string which passes through a ring. Given that gravity is not present and initially the mass is at a distance ##r_0## from the center and is revolving at angular velocity ##\omega_0##. The string is pulled with constant velocity ##V## starting ##t = 0## so that radial distance to the mass decreases. Find ##\omega (t)##

upload_2017-5-21_5-28-4.png


Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



There is no tangential forces on the block and the only radial is tension which is not required.

Anyhow, ##r = Vt## since the velocity is constant, ##\dot r = V## and ##\ddot r= 0##.

Pluggin those in,

##\vec a = \hat r(\ddot r - r \dot \theta^2 ) + \hat \theta (r \ddot \theta + 2\dot r \dot \theta)##

##\vec a = -\hat r (Vt \dot\theta^2) + \hat \theta (Vt \ddot \theta + 2V\dot \theta)##

Since there are no tangential forces,

##Vt \ddot \theta + 2 V\dot \theta = 0 \iff t \ddot \theta = - 2\dot \theta##

Since ##\dot \theta = \omega##

##\displaystyle t \dot \omega = -2 \omega \iff {\dot \omega \over \omega} = {-2 \over t} \iff \int^{\omega}_{\omega_0} {d\omega \over \omega} = \int^t_0 {-2 \over t}dt##

Now the second integral has the closed form ##\ln |t|## which is not defined at ##t = 0##,

Where did I go wrong ?
 
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Buffu said:
Anyhow, ##r = Vt## since the velocity is constant,
Does this give the correct value of ##r## at ##t = 0##?
 
TSny said:
Does this give the correct value of ##r## at ##t = 0##?
No. But why should it since after ##t = 0 ## the rope is pulled, no ?
 
Buffu said:

Homework Statement



A mass ##m## whirls around on a string which passes through a ring. Given that gravity is not present and initially the mass is at a distance ##r_0## from the center and is revolving at angular velocity ##\omega_0##. The string is pulled with constant velocity ##V## starting ##t = 0## so that radial distance to the mass decreases. Find ##\omega (t)##

View attachment 203875

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



There is no tangential forces on the block and the only radial is tension which is not required.

Anyhow, ##r = Vt## since the velocity is constant, ##\dot r = V## and ##\ddot r= 0##.

Pluggin those in,

##\vec a = \hat r(\ddot r - r \dot \theta^2 ) + \hat \theta (r \ddot \theta + 2\dot r \dot \theta)##

##\vec a = -\hat r (Vt \dot\theta^2) + \hat \theta (Vt \ddot \theta + 2V\dot \theta)##

Since there are no tangential forces,

##Vt \ddot \theta + 2 V\dot \theta = 0 \iff t \ddot \theta = - 2\dot \theta##

Since ##\dot \theta = \omega##

##\displaystyle t \dot \omega = -2 \omega \iff {\dot \omega \over \omega} = {-2 \over t} \iff \int^{\omega}_{\omega_0} {d\omega \over \omega} = \int^t_0 {-2 \over t}dt##

Now the second integral has the closed form ##\ln |t|## which is not defined at ##t = 0##,

Where did I go wrong ?
The radius decreases, so it is not Vt.
 
Angular momentum about the hole is conserved
 
Last edited:
Buffu said:
No. But why should it since after ##t = 0 ## the rope is pulled, no ?
t=0 is the instant at which the pulling starts. At that time, r should be its initial value still.
 
Ok I did it.

At any instance ##r = r_0 - Vt##

Which gives ##\vec a = -(r_0 - Vt)\hat r + \hat \theta((r_0 - Vt ) \dot \theta + -2V\ddot\theta)##

So, we get ##(r_0 - Vt ) \dot \theta = 2V\ddot\theta##

Substituting for omega,

##\dfrac{\dot \omega}{\omega} = \dfrac{2V}{r_0 - Vt}##

Integrating from ##\omega_0 \to \omega## and LHS and from ##0 \to t## on right,

I get ##\omega = \dfrac{\omega_0 r_0^2}{(r_0 - Vt)^2}##

Is this correct ?

Second part of the question was to find the radial force on the block,

Which I think is ##F_r =m(r_0 - Vt)\omega^2## and I plug from above in this formula,right ?
 
Ok I did it.

At any instance ##r = r_0 - Vt##

Which gives ##\vec a = -(r_0 - Vt)\hat r + \hat \theta((r_0 - Vt ) \dot \theta + -2V\ddot\theta)##

So, we get ##(r_0 - Vt ) \dot \theta = 2V\ddot\theta##

Substituting for omega,

##\dfrac{\dot \omega}{\omega} = \dfrac{2V}{r_0 - Vt}##

Integrating from ##\omega_0 \to \omega## and LHS and from ##0 \to t## on right,

I get ##\omega = \dfrac{\omega_0 r_0^2}{(r_0 - Vt)^2}##

Is this correct ?

Second part of the question was to find the radial force on the block,

Which I think is ##F_r =m(r_0 - Vt)\omega^2## and I plug from above in this formula,right ?
 
Buffu said:
Ok I did it.

At any instance ##r = r_0 - Vt##

Which gives ##\vec a = -(r_0 - Vt)\hat r + \hat \theta((r_0 - Vt ) \dot \theta + -2V\ddot\theta)##

So, we get ##(r_0 - Vt ) \dot \theta = 2V\ddot\theta##

Substituting for omega,

##\dfrac{\dot \omega}{\omega} = \dfrac{2V}{r_0 - Vt}##

Integrating from ##\omega_0 \to \omega## and LHS and from ##0 \to t## on right,

I get ##\omega = \dfrac{\omega_0 r_0^2}{(r_0 - Vt)^2}##

Is this correct ?

Second part of the question was to find the radial force on the block,

Which I think is ##F_r =m(r_0 - Vt)\omega^2## and I plug from above in this formula,right ?
Yes, that all looks right.
 
  • #10
zwierz said:
Angular momentum about the hole is conserved

Will this solve the question without solving a DE ?
 
  • #11
I guess so
 
  • #12
zwierz said:
I guess so

Ok I will try.
 
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