Uniform circular motion merry-go-round

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two objects, a purse and a wallet, moving in uniform circular motion on a merry-go-round at different radii. The acceleration of the purse is given, and the task is to determine the acceleration of the wallet in unit-vector notation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the angle of acceleration for the purse and then apply it to find the wallet's acceleration components. Questions arise regarding the presence of unit vectors and their application in the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the relationship between the accelerations of the purse and wallet, with some suggesting the need to find the magnitude of the purse's acceleration first. There is a hint provided regarding the proportionality of the wallet's acceleration vector to that of the purse.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of unit vectors and potential confusion about their representation in the original post. The problem context includes the need to consider the different radii of the objects while calculating their accelerations.

Jadalucas
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Homework Statement


A purse at radius 1.90 m and a wallet at radius 2.60 m travel in uniform circular motion on the floor of a merry-go-round as the ride turns. They are on the same radial line. At one instant, the acceleration of the purse is (1.70 m/s2) + (4.60 m/s2). At that instant and in unit-vector notation, what is the acceleration of the wallet?

Homework Equations


Tan(theta)= -(V^2/r)sin(theta)/-(V^2/r)Cos(theta)
A=V^2/r
T(period)=2pir/v

The Attempt at a Solution



I used the original components of the purse to determine the angle created from the acceleration components
1) Tan(theta)= (4.6m/s^2)/(1.70m/s^2)
Arc Tangent (4.6/1.7)=theta and I found theta=69.72 degrees

next, I used the angle to determine the new components of the wallet using the same velocity but at a different radius (2.6m)

2) 2.6 Cos69.72= acceleration of wallet about x = .901m/s^2
2.6 sin69.72 = acceleration of wallet about y = 2.44m/s^2

-I put those components into the unite vector notation and got the problem wrong... I'm wondering why, if anyone could please help. thanks
 
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Jadalucas said:

Homework Statement


A purse at radius 1.90 m and a wallet at radius 2.60 m travel in uniform circular motion on the floor of a merry-go-round as the ride turns. They are on the same radial line. At one instant, the acceleration of the purse is (1.70 m/s2) + (4.60 m/s2). At that instant and in unit-vector notation, what is the acceleration of the wallet?
Are there unit vectors multiplying these components? If so, what are they?
 
the only unit vectors that had been provided were the acceleration of the purse is (1.70 m/s2)i + (4.60 m/s2)j *apparently those letters didn't show up in the earlier post.
 
Jadalucas said:
the only unit vectors that had been provided were the acceleration of the purse is (1.70 m/s2)i + (4.60 m/s2)j *apparently those letters didn't show up in the earlier post.
Can you find the magnitude of the acceleration of the purse?
Once you have that, can you find the magnitude of the acceleration of the wallet?
Once you have that, can you find the components of the acceleration of the wallet?

Hint: The wallet's acceleration vector is proportional to the purse's acceleration vector. What is the constant of proportionality?
 

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