Total energy of system along axis

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the total energy of an isolated system, particularly focusing on the kinetic energy contributions when velocity is along multiple axes (x and y). Participants explore the implications of conservation of energy in determining final velocities and the breakdown of these velocities into components.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how to express total energy when velocity is given as a vector along two axes, asking whether to take the resultant or sum the kinetic energies separately.
  • Another participant suggests that the translational kinetic energy can be expressed as KE = 1/2m(v_x^2 + v_y^2), indicating a possible approach to the problem.
  • A further participant raises a related question about extracting final velocity from initial total energy and final rotational energy, using conservation of energy equations.
  • One participant notes that conservation of energy alone does not provide direction for final velocity, emphasizing the need for additional information about constraint forces.
  • Another participant expresses confusion regarding the resolution of collisions and the role of energy conservation in determining final velocities and angular velocities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on how to resolve the questions regarding the breakdown of velocities into components or the implications of energy conservation in collision scenarios. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the discussion, such as the need for additional details about constraint forces to determine velocity direction and the ambiguity in resolving kinetic energy contributions along multiple axes.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students and professionals in physics and engineering, particularly those exploring concepts of energy conservation, kinetic energy, and motion in multiple dimensions.

alterecho
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Its stated that total energy of an isolated system is given by
E = [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]m[itex]v^{2}[/itex] + [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]I[itex]ω^{2}[/itex] + mgh.

Whats the correct form when the velocity is along 2 axis, that is, along x and y-axis like v = (2, 1)?
Should the resultant be taken or just add the kinetic energies along each axis?

I've been searching awhile but can't find an accurate answer.

thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
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alterecho said:
Whats the correct form when the velocity is along 2 axis, that is, along x and y-axis like v = (2, 1)?
Should the resultant be taken or just add the kinetic energies along each axis?
The translational KE would be:
[tex]KE = 1/2mv^2 = 1/2m(v_x^2 + v_y^2)[/tex]
 
Thanks. I have a further related question. Now suppose i want to extract the final velocity given the initial total energy, the final rotational energy (assuming the potential energies are 0 in this case) using the law of conservation of energy given by,

[itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]m[itex]u^{2}[/itex] + [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]I[itex]ω^{2}[/itex] = [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]m[itex]v^{2}[/itex] + [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]I[itex]W^{2}[/itex]

or

m[itex]u^{2}[/itex] + I[itex]ω^{2}[/itex] = m[itex]v^{2}[/itex] + I[itex]W^{2}[/itex]

since initial energy of the system is known, left side of the equation becomes [itex]E_{i}[/itex],
[itex]E_{i}[/itex] = m[itex]v^{2}[/itex] + I[itex]W^{2}[/itex]

since m, I and [itex]W_{2}[/itex] are known, i get the equation for finding the velocity as,
v = [itex]\sqrt{\frac{E_{i} - IW^{2}}{m}}[/itex]

But how do i break it down into x and y coordinates?
 
alterecho said:
But how do i break it down into x and y coordinates?
There's no way to tell the final velocity direction from conservation of energy alone. You'll have to know the details of the constraint forces involved. (Energy is a scalar, not a vector.)
 
Oh. But I've read that for resolution of collision, they take into consideration energy conservation. So how would they resolve it? Are we supposed to know the initial and final velocities and then calculate the final angular velocity from that?
 

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