Tension in the string holding a falling chain

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The discussion revolves around calculating the tension in a string holding a falling chain. Initially, the tension was thought to equal the weight of the chain plus a momentum term, leading to incorrect assumptions about the lengths and speeds involved. Participants clarified that the speed of the bottommost tip of the right string differs from that of the left string, affecting the momentum transfer and ultimately the tension calculation. The correct approach involves understanding that while the right side is in free fall, the left side's links are at rest and the tension can be derived from the rate of change of momentum. The final consensus is that the tension in the string is λgy, where y is the distance fallen by the chain.
  • #31
Vibhor said:
So that is how thrust force on left part is coming out to be λgy ?
yes
 
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  • #32
Vibhor said:
Which part of the string is in free fall ?Is left part in free fall ?
No parts of the left side are in free fall. All parts of the left side are at rest. The left side is just getting longer as more links are added to the left side.
Are you suggesting that only the right part is in free fall ?
Yes
Why do we get correct answer by assuming left part to be in free fall ?
Can you show how you get the answer assuming the left side is in free fall?
 
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  • #33
TSny said:
Can you show how you get the answer assuming the left side is in free fall?

Thrust force is λv2 . If we assume tip of left string to be in free fall ,it falls by a distance y/2 . Hence the speed is √(2g(y/2)). This is how I got the thrust force λgy .
 
  • #34
Vibhor said:
Thrust force is λv2 . If we assume tip of left string to be in free fall ,it falls by a distance y/2 . Hence the speed is √(2g(y/2)). This is how I got the thrust force λgy .
I'm afraid I don't follow your argument.

haruspex outlined how to get the force in #27.

The rate, dm/dt, at which mass on the right is coming to rest is the rate at which mass on the right is reaching the (moving) blue line. This is λ times the velocity of the right side relative to the blue line: dm/dt = λ(vred dot - vblue line) =λ(v - v/2) = λv/2, where v is the velocity of free fall of the right side: v = √(2gy). The magnitude of the force required to bring elements of the right side to rest is equal to the magnitude of the rate of change of momentum of these elements:
F = (dm/dt)⋅v = (λv/2)⋅v = λv2/2 = λgy.
 
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  • #35
TSny said:
The rate, dm/dt, at which mass on the right is coming to rest is the rate at which mass on the right is reaching the (moving) blue line. This is λ times the velocity of the right side relative to the blue line: dm/dt = λ(vred dot - vblue line) =λ(v - v/2) = λv/2, where v is the velocity of free fall of the right side: v = √(2gy). The magnitude of the force required to bring elements of the right side to rest is equal to the magnitude of the rate of change of momentum of these elements:
F = (dm/dt)⋅v = (λv/2)⋅v = λv2/2 = λgy.

Thanks .This clears up the confusion.
 
  • #36
TSny said:
I'm afraid I don't follow your argument.

Now ,even I don't follow my argument ?:)

The remarkable thing is that ,despite getting the dynamics of the problem wrong in every step ,I got the correct answer in first try o_O .
 
  • #37
Vibhor said:
The remarkable thing is that ,despite getting the dynamics of the problem wrong in every step ,I got the correct answer in first try o_O .
That's happened to me before, too.
 
  • #38
TSny said:
That's happened to me before, too.

:smile:

Thanks a lot Sir .

Thank you very much @haruspex .
 

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