What are the dimensions of angular acceleration divided by radius?

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The discussion revolves around understanding the relationship between angular acceleration, tension, and forces in a system involving a cylinder and a hanging mass. Participants clarify that the angular acceleration of the cylinder is related to the linear acceleration of the mass, and they emphasize the importance of applying Newton's laws for both rotational and linear motion. Key equations discussed include the torque equation and the relationship between tension and gravitational force acting on the mass. There is a focus on ensuring dimensional consistency in calculations, particularly when deriving angular acceleration. The conversation highlights the need for careful analysis of forces and torques to solve the problem accurately.
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Hey guys, so I am a little stumped on this problem. Can y'all help?

I think for a) it is true but am not sure
For b) I believe is is false because the angular acceleration would cause the angular speed to increase
For c) I think it is true since acceleration is constant so T=ma is constant
Does that sound right?

For part D, I know these equations but am not sure:
Sum of forces=mv^2/r=m*omega^2*r

Thanks
 
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nerdeagle24 said:
I think for a) it is true but am not sure
For b) I believe is is false because the angular acceleration would cause the angular speed to increase
For c) I think it is true since acceleration is constant so T=ma is constant
Does that sound right?
Your answers are correct, though I don't know what you mean by "T=ma".

nerdeagle24 said:
For part D, I know these equations but am not sure:
Sum of forces=mv^2/r=m*omega^2*r
Those equations describe circular motion and centripetal acceleration. You won't need them here.

Instead, analyze the forces on the cylinder (and the torque they produce) and apply Newton's 2nd law for rotation. Also analyze the forces acting on the hanging mass and apply Newton's 2nd law to it. That, with a bit of work, will allow you to calculate the acceleration of both the cylinder and the hanging mass. (Note: The angular acceleration of the cylinder and the linear acceleration of the mass are related.)
 
Doc Al said:
Your answers are correct, though I don't know what you mean by "T=ma".

So how do we know c is true? I was trying to say the force in the rope = ma and since a is constant, then F, or tension, must be constant. Is that right?

Also, how do we know part a is true?

Doc Al said:
Those equations describe circular motion and centripetal acceleration. You won't need them here.

Instead, analyze the forces on the cylinder (and the torque they produce) and apply Newton's 2nd law for rotation. Also analyze the forces acting on the hanging mass and apply Newton's 2nd law to it. That, with a bit of work, will allow you to calculate the acceleration of both the cylinder and the hanging mass. (Note: The angular acceleration of the cylinder and the linear acceleration of the mass are related.)

I think only one force is being applied on the cylinder, right? The force from the rope? And the force in the rope is mg. So does that mean the angular acceleration is equal to g/r. We can then use angular kinetics equations to find the angular velocity?
 
nerdeagle24 said:
the force in the rope = ma
Where m is the suspended mass and a its acceleration? No. The sum of all the forces is ma.
nerdeagle24 said:
only one force is being applied on the cylinder, right? The force from the rope?
Yes, but consider torque.
nerdeagle24 said:
And the force in the rope is mg.
It is that before the brake is released, but not afterwards. This will become clear when you get the ΣF=ma equation right for the suspended mass.
 
haruspex said:
Where m is the suspended mass and a its acceleration? No. The sum of all the forces is ma.

Yes, but consider torque.

It is that before the brake is released, but not afterwards. This will become clear when you get the ΣF=ma equation right for the suspended mass.

Ok. Thank you for your help. So the torque applied on the cylinder is f*r, where f is the force applied by the rope. I am not sure how to relate torque to sum(F)=ma.

Edit: would I need to use the moment of inertia?
Edit 2: would you have mass of spherical mass*g*R=.5*mass of cylinder*R^2*angular acceleration?
And then you can take that and have angular speed=angular acceleration*time? and then angular speed*r =velocity?
 
Last edited:
nerdeagle24 said:
the torque applied on the cylinder is f*r, where f is the force applied by the rope.
Yes.
nerdeagle24 said:
how to relate torque to sum(F)=ma.
Forget the cylinder for the moment and fix on the suspended mass. Write the equation for its resulting acceleration.
 
haruspex said:
Yes.

Forget the cylinder for the moment and fix on the suspended mass. Write the equation for its resulting acceleration.
Is it tension in rope/mass of spherical mass?
 
nerdeagle24 said:
Is it tension in rope/mass of spherical mass?
No.
What are the forces acting on the mass?
 
haruspex said:
No.
What are the forces acting on the mass?
Gravity, the tension in the rope? And the cylinder spinning?
 
  • #10
nerdeagle24 said:
Gravity, the tension in the rope? And the cylinder spinning?
The mass doesn't know anything about the cylinder. It only responds to the forces directly applied to it, the tension and gravity.
So what is the sum of the vertical forces on it, and how does that relate to the acceleration?
 
  • #11
haruspex said:
The mass doesn't know anything about the cylinder. It only responds to the forces directly applied to it, the tension and gravity.
So what is the sum of the vertical forces on it, and how does that relate to the acceleration?
-mg+tension=ma

So a=(T-mg)/m
 
  • #12
nerdeagle24 said:
mg+tension=ma
Right, but they act on opposite directions, of course.

Now consider the cylinder. For this you need the rotational analogue, i.e. that the net torque is the moment of inertia multiplied by the angular acceleration: Στ=Iα.
 
  • #13
haruspex said:
Right, but they act on opposite directions, of course.

Now consider the cylinder. For this you need the rotational analogue, i.e. that the net torque is the moment of inertia multiplied by the angular acceleration: Στ=Iα.
haruspex said:
Right, but they act on opposite directions, of course.

Now consider the cylinder. For this you need the rotational analogue, i.e. that the net torque is the moment of inertia multiplied by the angular acceleration: Στ=Iα.
Ya. I mistyped that. I made an edit hahaha.

so we get tension*R=I*angular frequency?
 
  • #14
nerdeagle24 said:
-mg+tension=ma

So a=(T-mg)/m
Careful with signs. Which way are you taking as positive for a, up or down?
 
  • #15
haruspex said:
Careful with signs. Which way are you taking as positive for a, up or down?
I am saying up is positive a
 
  • #16
nerdeagle24 said:
tension*R=I*angular frequency
Angular acceleration, not angular velocity.
 
  • #17
nerdeagle24 said:
I am saying up is positive a
Ok
 
  • #18
haruspex said:
Angular acceleration, not angular velocity.
So we have two equations but three unknowns (angular acceleration, tension, acceleration of mass)? What else should I look at?
 
  • #19
nerdeagle24 said:
So we have two equations but three unknowns (angular acceleration, tension, acceleration of mass)? What else should I look at?
The angular and linear accelerations are directly related.
 
  • #20
haruspex said:
The angular and linear accelerations are directly related.
Oh ya. So angular acceleration=a/R.

So we can find angular acceleration and then use angular acceleration * t = angular speed?
 
  • #21
haruspex said:
The angular and linear accelerations are directly related.
I ended up with angular acceleration = (mass cylinder*R/2*mass weight+g)/R

Is that right?
 
  • #22
nerdeagle24 said:
angular acceleration = (mass cylinder*R/2*mass weight+g)/R
That makes no sense dimensionally. Please post your working.
 
  • #23
haruspex said:
That makes no sense dimensionally. Please post your working.
I realized I made a mistake:

So my equations are:
angular acceleration = a/r
.5MR^2=T*R
mg-T=ma where a is defined as down

So we get from the third equation:
T=m(g-a)
and the second equation:
T=.5MR

Set these equal to each other and solve for a:
a = g-(MR/2m) where big M is mass of cylinder, little m is mass of sphere
So then angular acceleration = (g-(MR/2m))/R
plugging in numbers we get 14.87 rads/sec^2

So angular speed = 14.87*t=14.87*3=44.61 rads/s

This doesn't feel right as that is a really high speed
 
  • #24
haruspex said:
That makes no sense dimensionally. Please post your working.
I see another mistake. I am sorry.

So my equations are:
angular acceleration = a/r
.5MR^2*angular acceleration=T*R
mg-T=ma where a is defined as down

T = m(g-(angular acceleration/R))

Plug in second equation and solve for angular acceleration = (.5MR+(m/R))/mg
 
  • #25
nerdeagle24 said:
T = m(g-(angular acceleration/R))
You need to learn to check dimensionality. What would be the dimensions of angular acceleration/R?
 
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