Troubleshooting a Discrepancy in Atwood Cylinder Solution

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving an Atwood cylinder, where the original poster has attempted to solve for the acceleration of the system using force and torque equations. They have noted a discrepancy between their calculated result and the solution provided in the manual.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster applies Newton's second law and torque equations to analyze the system but questions where their reasoning may have gone awry. Other participants discuss the relationship between the motion of the cylinder and the string, exploring the implications of the no-slip condition.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the original poster's reasoning and questioning the assumptions made regarding the motion of the cylinder and the string. There is an exploration of different interpretations of the equations involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are examining the definitions of acceleration and velocity in the context of the system, particularly focusing on the interactions between the block and the cylinder. The original poster's calculations and the provided solution manual's answer are under scrutiny.

Abhishek11235
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Homework Statement


The problem is in attached screenshot. Now,I solved this using force/torque method. However ,I got different solution as given in solution manual. Where I have gone wrong?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Applying F=ma to cylinder:
$$mg-T=ma$$
Applying ##\tau = I\alpha## to cylinder about CoM,
$$TR= I\alpha$$
Since the string doesn't slip we have
$$\alpha= a/R $$

Solving the above 3 with ##I=MR^2/2## we have,
$$Mg= 3Ma/2 \implies a=2g/3$$
However,the solution is ##a=g/2##. Where I have gone wrong?
 

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Abhishek11235 said:
Since the string doesn't slip we have
That equation describes the cylinder's motion relative to the string, i.e. where a is the acceleration relative to the string.
 
Can you describe it in detail?
haruspex said:
That equation describes the cylinder's motion relative to the string, i.e. where a is the acceleration relative to the string.
 
haruspex said:
That equation describes the cylinder's motion relative to the string, i.e. where a is the acceleration relative to the string.
Please check my reasoning. The velocity of string is due to
1) The block moves down which pulls out string from cylinder
2) The cylinder moves down which unrolls thread

Hence ,total velocity of thread = 2×velocity of cylinder=##\omega ×R## since there is no slipping
 
Abhishek11235 said:
The velocity of string is due to
1) The block moves down which pulls out string from cylinder
Yes.
Abhishek11235 said:
The cylinder moves down which unrolls thread
No. Even if the string were stationary the cylinder would move down unrolling the thread.
 
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