Two rotating coaxial drums and sand transfering between them (Kleppner)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the conservation of angular momentum in a system of two rotating coaxial drums with sand transferring between them. Participants explore the implications of mass loss on angular momentum and angular velocity, questioning the assumptions made in their analyses.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants analyze the angular momentum of each drum separately and consider the overall system. Questions arise regarding the constancy of angular momentum and the effects of mass loss on angular velocity. Some participants express confusion about whether angular momentum can remain constant while angular velocity changes.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants actively questioning their assumptions and the relationships between angular momentum and angular velocity. There is recognition that the system's total angular momentum is conserved, prompting further exploration of the implications of this principle.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential contradictions in their reasoning regarding the conservation of angular momentum and the behavior of the drums as mass is lost. There is an acknowledgment of the need to consider the system as a whole rather than in isolation.

yucheng
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Homework Statement
A drum of mass ##M_A## and radius ##a## rotates freely with initial angular speed ##\omega _0##. A second drum of radius ##b>a## and mass ##M_B## is mounted on the same axis, although it is free to rotate. A thin layer of sand ##M_s## is evenly distributed on the inner surface of the smaller drum (drum ##A##). At ##t=0## small perforations in the inner drum are opened, and sand starts to fly out at a rate ##\dfrac{dM}{dt}=\lambda## and sticks to the outer drum. Find subsequent angular velocities of the two drums. Ignore the transit time of the sand

Kleppner, Problem 7.2
Relevant Equations
N/A
The solution is simple by noting that the total angular momentum of the system is constant. (Though I overlooked this)

Instead, I went ahead analyzing the individual angular momentum of both drums.

Let ##L_a## and ##L_b## be the angular momentum respectively. ##M_a##, ##M_b## be the instantaneous mass (including sand), ##M_{0a}##, ##M_{0b}## be initial mass.

Then $$L_a(t) = M_a a^2 \omega_a(t)$$ and $$L_a(t +\Delta t)= (M_a- \Delta m) a^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t) + \Delta m a^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t) = (M_a) a^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t)$$

$$\Delta L_a = M_a a^2 (\omega_a(t + \Delta t) - \omega_a(t))$$
$$\frac{\Delta L_a}{\Delta t} = M_a a^2 \frac{\omega_a(t + \Delta t) - \omega_a(t)}{\Delta t}$$

Taking the limit, $$\frac{d L_a}{dt} = M_a a^2 \frac{d \omega_a}{dt}$$

But since there is no net torque, $$ \frac{d \omega_a}{dt} = \frac{d L_a}{dt} = 0$$, thus ##\omega_a## is constant.

This fits our prediction, but is this proof correct?

Next, we do the same for drum B, we get

$$L_b(t) = M_b b^2 \omega_b(t) + \Delta m a^2 \omega_a$$

$$L_b(t +\Delta t)= (M_b + \Delta m) b^2 (\omega_b(t) + \delta \omega_b)$$

Can I write ##\omega_b## instead of ##\omega_b(t)##?

Ignoring second order terms,

$$\Delta L_b = b^2 M_b \Delta \omega_b + \Delta m (b^2 \omega_b - a^2 \omega_a)$$
$$\frac{\Delta L_b}{\Delta t}= b^2 M_b \frac{\Delta \omega_b}{\Delta t} + \frac{\Delta m}{\Delta t} (b^2 \omega_b - a^2 \omega_a)$$
Taking the limits,
$$\frac{d L_b}{d t}= b^2 M_b \frac{d \omega_b}{d t} + \frac{d m}{d t} (b^2 \omega_b - a^2 \omega_a)$$

Since $$L_b=I \omega_b= M_b b^2 \omega_b$$, I thought of solving the differential equation:

$$d L_b= (b^2 M_b \frac{d \omega_b}{d t} + \frac{d m}{d t} (b^2 \omega_b - a^2 \omega_a))dt$$

But ##M_b=M_0b + \lambda b t##

$$d L_b= (b^2 (M_b=M_{0b} + \lambda b t)\frac{d \omega_b}{d t} + \lambda (b^2 \omega_b - a^2 \omega_a))dt$$

How should I go about integrating this equation?

Thanks in advance!
 
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yucheng said:
.
$$L_a(t +\Delta t)= (M_a- \Delta m) a^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t) + \Delta m a^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t) = (M_a) a^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t)$$Thanks in advance!
1. Why would ##\omega_a## change?
2. Why after subtracting ##\Delta ma^2 \omega_a(t + \Delta t)## do you add it on again?
You don't need the ##\Delta t## in there; that would be a second order small quantity.
I assume ##\Delta m= \lambda\Delta t##.
 
@haruspex Oops, ##\omega_a(t+\Delta t)## is supposed to be a function of time.

for 2. I was thinking, angular momentum does not change, so... I add that in?

Or, does this angular momentum analysis not work, because I should be considering drum a and drum b at once, not separately?
 
yucheng said:
for 2. I was thinking, angular momentum does not change, so... I add that in?
It's losing mass, but its angular momentum doesn't change? Is it going faster?!
 
haruspex said:
It's losing mass, but its angular momentum doesn't change? Is it going faster?!
Yes it's going faster, Oh, a contradiction!
 
yucheng said:
Oh, a contradiction!
No contradiction, it just loses angular momentum.
yucheng said:
I should be considering drum a and drum b at once, not separately?
Yes, the angular momentum of the combined system is conserved.
 
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haruspex said:
No contradiction, it just loses angular momentum.
I mean, if I were to assume my original equation holds, then I can derive a contradiction? Since in my original equation I assumes that angular momentum does not change. While in fact, my conclusion that angular velocity does not change, says it does?
 
yucheng said:
I mean, if I were to assume my original equation holds, then I can derive a contradiction? Since in my original equation I assumes that angular momentum does not change. While in fact, my conclusion that angular velocity does not change, says it does?
Ok.
Did you see my edit to post #6?
 
Yep, thanks!
haruspex said:
Ok.
Did you see my edit to post #6?
 

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