What is the acceleration normal to PC in polar coordinates?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem in polar coordinates involving the motion of a point P along a circular path centered at point O, influenced by a force directed towards point C. Participants are exploring the nature of the accelerations involved, particularly radial and tangential components, and the conditions under which such motion is possible.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of angular momentum and question how tangential acceleration arises if the force is directed solely towards C. There are inquiries about the nature of the force and its implications for circular motion, as well as considerations of the relationship between radial and tangential accelerations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering various interpretations and questioning assumptions about the force and motion. Some guidance has been provided regarding the use of polar coordinates and the need to consider both radial and tangential components of acceleration, but no consensus has been reached on the specifics of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the force's magnitude changes along the circular path, raising questions about how this affects the motion. There is also mention of the need for additional equations of motion to fully describe the system, given the unknown nature of the force.

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Homework Statement



circle.jpg

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Since the force is always directed towards C , angular momentum about C should be conserved . But that doesn't seem to help as we need the relation at any general angle .

How should I proceed ?
 

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Jahnavi said:

Homework Statement



View attachment 214888

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Since the force is always directed towards C , angular momentum about C should be conserved . But that doesn't seem to help as we need the relation at any general angle .

How should I proceed ?
Point P moves along a circle centered at point O. Knowing that the force exerted on it points towards C, what are the radial and tangential accelerations in terms of theta?
 
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ehild said:
Point P moves along a circle centered at point O. Knowing that the force exerted on it points towards C, what are the radial and tangential accelerations in terms of theta?
In question already mentioned that point is moving only under the force acting towards C then from where tangential acceleration comes.
 
Abhishek kumar said:
In question already mentioned that point is moving only under the force acting towards C then from where tangential acceleration comes.
If it were moving only under the force acting towards C, it wouldn't be moving in a circle as shown. It has both radial and tangential accelerations.
 
cnh1995 said:
If it were moving only under the force acting towards C, it wouldn't be moving in a circle as shown. It has both radial and tangential accelerations.
Read question
 
Abhishek kumar said:
Read question
I did. It's the 'net force' that acts towards C. It has both radial and tangential components such that the particle moves on a circle as shown.
 
cnh1995 said:
I did. It's the 'net force' that acts towards C. It has both radial and tangential components such that the particle moves on a circle as shown.
You can broke the component of F along x and y direction.point is moving in circle but force not directed towards centre and as point move distance between point c and point p changes.i think it moves under some kind of restoring force
 
Abhishek kumar said:
i think it moves under some kind of restoring force
Fortunately, we don't have to analyse the nature of force in the question. You can arrive at the answer with elementary trig and vector algebra.
 
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ehild said:
Point P moves along a circle centered at point O. Knowing that the force exerted on it points towards C, what are the radial and tangential accelerations in terms of theta?

Thanks !

Is this type of circular motion actually possible with the single force as shown in the picture ?

Is this some sort of planetary motion around the sun with perigee coinciding the focus ?
 
  • #10
Jahnavi said:
Is this type of circular motion actually possible with the single force as shown in the picture ?
Yes, and the condition under which it is possible is what the question is asking for.
 
  • #11
cnh1995 said:
Yes, and the condition under which it is possible is what the question is asking for.

I think it's the other way round :smile:
 
  • #12
Jahnavi said:
I think it's the other way round :smile:
Possibly, but did you get the answer? If you did, I can stop posting here since it's beyond my expertise to discuss the nature of this force (and the planetary motion you mentioned):-p.
 
  • #13
cnh1995 said:
Possibly, but did you get the answer?

I get option a) . Do you get the same ?
 
  • #14
Jahnavi said:
I get option a) . Do you get the same ?
No.
 
  • #15
Sorry . I am actually getting option b) .

@ehild , please reply to post#9 .
 
  • #16
Jahnavi said:
Sorry . I am actually getting option b) .

@ehild , please reply to post#9 .
Unless I made some stupid mistake, it's d).
But I suppose now you know how to do it.
 
  • #17
cnh1995 said:
Unless I made some stupid mistake, it's d).

Let me check my work .

Edit : I am still getting option b) .
 
Last edited:
  • #18
Jahnavi said:
Let me check my work .

Edit : I am still getting option b) .
You calculated (d2θ/dt2)/ (dθ/dt)2 right? It comes out to be 2cotθ.

I think you calculated the reciprocal.
 
  • #19
cnh1995 said:
You calculated (d2θ/dt2)/ (dθ/dt)2 right? It comes out to be 2cotθ.

I think you calculated the reciprocal.
I also get (B). Consider θ=0. Would it not make sense that ##\ddot\theta=0## but ##\dot\theta<0##?
 
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  • #20
haruspex said:
I also get (B). Consider θ=0. Would it not make sense that ##\ddot\theta=0## but ##\dot\theta<0##?
You're right!
In my working, I had drawn the 2 radii perpendicular to each other in the diagram, so my θ was 45 degrees there. And using the alternate angles, I concluded that tanθ=Ft/Fr. Actually, tanθ=cotθ at θ=45°, so my assumption worked for θ=45° but it's actually cotθ=Ft/Fr.
Tricked by my own drawing!

My apologies!
 
  • #21
Jahnavi said:
Thanks !

Is this type of circular motion actually possible with the single force as shown in the picture ?
Yes.
Jahnavi said:
Is this some sort of planetary motion around the sun with perigee coinciding the focus ?
I don't think so. The force points to C, but its magnitude changes along the circle. It is zero at C and highest at the opposite point.
upload_2017-11-12_21-17-42.png

I also got B.
 

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  • #22
Abhishek kumar said:
In question already mentioned that point is moving only under the force acting towards C then from where tangential acceleration comes.
See Post #21
 
  • #23
ehild said:
but its magnitude changes along the circle. It is zero at C and highest at the opposite point.

Please explain how do we infer this from the question .
 
  • #24
If we look in polar form then r and Θ both varies with respect to time.we can find expression for acceleration using r and Θ
 
  • #25
  • #26
Jahnavi said:
Is this type of circular motion actually possible with the single force as shown in the picture ?
Yes. The necessary and sufficient condition that the motion is controlled by such a force is one of the equations needed to arrive at the desired equation.
Jahnavi said:
Is this some sort of planetary motion around the sun with perigee coinciding the focus
No. The trajectory would need to be an ellipse with the source of the force at one focus. Yes, a circle is a special case of an ellipse but its focus would be at the centre, not on the circumference.
 
  • #27
Do you think If I write the two eq of motions then I should end up with a circular path ?

But since type of force is unknown how to do that ?

I am curious as to how this force makes the particle move in a circle .
 
  • #28
Jahnavi said:
Do you think If I write the two eq of motions then I should end up with a circular path ?

But since type of force is unknown how to do that ?

I am curious as to how this force makes the particle move in a circle .
You do not know the magnitude of the force towards the origin, but you do know the magnitude in another direction.
 
  • #29
haruspex said:
but you do know the magnitude in another direction.

Which direction ?
 
  • #30
Jahnavi said:
Which direction ?
I'd like you to think that through for yourself. It's not hard.
 

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