# Homework Help: What is the minimum height?

Tags:
1. Feb 2, 2017

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
An empty ball , of mass m moment of inertia I = (2m.r²)/3, is rolling across the path shown below :

there is friction fr from A to C .

r is the radius of the ball , and R is the radius of the circular part within the path .

what would be the minimal height h , so that the ball can make a complete lap in the loop (the circular part) ?
2. Relevant equations
∑F = m.a
∑τ = I . α = r.I.α / where α is the angular acceleration , I the moment of inertia , and r the radius .

3. The attempt at a solution
after some computations I've found :
$$a_{T} = \frac{g.\sin(\alpha)}{\frac{2}{3}r^{2}-1}~~$$ ( a_T ; is the translational acceleration)

$$f_{r} = \frac{2m.g.\sin(\alpha).r^{2}}{2r^{2}-3}$$

I know that the ball must roll on a distance of 2πR( the perimeter of the loop). But I can't figure out how to link between the acceleration and this distance ?

2. Feb 2, 2017

### haruspex

This statement troubles me. Taken at face value, it is referring to static friction (the ball is rolling, we're told), but if so it is irrelevant what the value is, and it would not be the same on the slope and on the flat (where it would be zero). So I suspect it means rolling resistance, which will act as a constant force opposing forward motion.
Either way, should not need to get involved in details of accelerations. Use energy considerations.
Your expression for the acceleration cannot be right anyway. It is dimensionally inconsistent (r2 and 1 being added/subtracted).

3. Feb 2, 2017

indeed ,it's a constant friction force

4. Feb 2, 2017

### mastrofoffi

I'm not checking the calculations, but your formula for acceleration is dimensionally wrong, probably you missed some term in there?

By the way, the acceleration while the ball is on the loop is not constant(what you found would just be the acceleration of the ball rolling down the inclined plane), so unless you find an equation describing acceleration with respect to height and integrate over that you can't solve the problem this way, but that's not how I'd solve it.

You need to understand what are the dynamical conditions such that the ball can make a complete lap, so you should reason on what forces are acting on the body while it is on the loop and note that they share a fundamental property, which allows you to apply an important physical principle. I would suggest you try to solve the problem first using a point-particle and then adjusting it for the ball.

5. Feb 2, 2017

### haruspex

It may be constant, but it is not friction.

6. Feb 2, 2017

when the ball is on the loop , there is gravitational force friction , and reaction force , they have also sad that the reaction force was zero on the top of the loop , in addition to that , they give a hint wich says that we have to use newton's law to find out the relation between the velocity (translational velocity to be more precise) and the gravity g . now , what I'am wondering is , do the acceleration in the inclined plane have anything to do with loop , I mean can we study the motion of the ball just inside the loop regardless of the inclined path before ?

7. Feb 2, 2017

### haruspex

Yes. All that matters for the loop is that it enters with sufficient speed. Having found that, you can work backwards to the ramp.

8. Feb 3, 2017

but how to find this minimum velocity ?? any hints ?

9. Feb 3, 2017

### mastrofoffi

What forces are acting on the body at the top of loop? Try to write down their equations

10. Feb 3, 2017

on the top of the loop there is only gravity and friction , they said that we remiss the reaction force , so we have (by applying the sum of the forces , and the sum of the torques) ;

$$m.g-f_{r} = m.a$$
$$f_{r}=\frac{2}{3}m.r^{3}.a$$

so : $$a = \frac{g}{1+\frac{2}{3}r^{3}}$$

and then ?

11. Feb 3, 2017

### Diegor

You can use energy to get speed (it will be related with initial height)at one point inside de loop and then from that point Newton's equations. Don't forget rolling energy.

12. Feb 3, 2017

By using conservation of mechanical energy energy :

$$m.g.h=w(f_{r})+\frac{1}{2}m.v^{2}+\frac{1}{2}I.\omega ^{2}=-f_{r}.\frac{h}{\sin(\alpha)} + \frac{1}{2}m.v^2+\frac{1}{3}.m.v^{2}=-f_{r}.\frac{h}{\sin(\alpha)}+\frac{5}{6}m.v^{2}$$

$$g.h = \frac{5}{6}.v^{2}-f_{r}.\frac{h}{\sin(\alpha)}$$

13. Feb 3, 2017

### mastrofoffi

I am not sure how you obtained these, but they are wrong. As was already pointed out, it is of primary importance to check if the units are consistent when you obtain a formula, and in your equations they are not.
And you can't just neglect the loop vincular reaction because it is what makes the circular motion possible(it is a centripetal force).
I'd suggest you to post the original text to overcome this and other ambiguities, like the frictional force you are talking about.
As haruspex already pointed out it may be a static friction, thus making the motion a "pure rolling", or it could be a rolling friction.
In the first case(which i think is the right one), it would not be relevant since it is static and making no work, so conservation of energy applies; in the second case you would have dissipative forces on the plane but probably not on the loop(i dont think the dynamics of a loop with rolling friction can be solved analytically).

Anyway, to correctly apply energy conservation you need to account for the centripetal force(which, if you don't remember, depends on velocity). If your body reaches the top with 0 speed, it will not make a complete lap but just fall down under the action of gravity.

14. Feb 3, 2017

yes it's a static friction , not the rolling friction

15. Feb 3, 2017

Where do I apply the conservation of enegy theorem , in the inclined plan or inside the loop ???

16. Feb 3, 2017

### haruspex

No, rolling friction is static friction. Despite what the question states, if this force is constant then it is not friction at all. Static friction would be zero on the horizontal path, and it does no work, so would not sap any KE. It could be rolling resistance.
Gravity acts down, fr acts horizontally, so unless you mean this as a vector equation it makes no sense.
The right hand side appears to be Ira. What beast is that? Did you mean Ia/r?
As already pointed out several times, that is dimensionally nonsense. You cannot add a dimensionless constant, 1, to an entity that has dimension, such as r3.

Please, let's take this in easy steps. First, what are the vertical forces acting at the top of the loop? What is the vertical component of acceleration at the top of the loop? What equation does that give?

17. Feb 4, 2017

ok , on the top of the loop we have :

the vertical accleration wich is tangential to the loop : $$a_{x} = \frac{v^{2}}{R}$$

and the normal accelration which points downward : $$a_{y} = m.g$$

is it right ?

18. Feb 4, 2017

### TomHart

Am I misunderstanding something? How can vertical acceleration be tangential at the top of the loop?

19. Feb 4, 2017

because on each point on the loop , we can break the accleration into two components , one pointing to the center of the loop , and the other tangential to the path , it's like an orbital motion .

20. Feb 4, 2017

### TomHart

What does the equation a = v2/r represent?
Edited due to poor wording.

21. Feb 4, 2017

22. Feb 4, 2017

### TomHart

This acceleration is a radial acceleration since it is always directed toward the centre of the circle and takes the magnitude:
a = v2/r

So why are you calling it a tangential acceleration, showing it as the x component?

If the reaction force is zero at the top of the loop, are there any forces that can be causing a horizontal acceleration at that point?

23. Feb 4, 2017

Sorry , it was just a mistake that I didn't saw , indeed it's radial accleration , and it's directed toward the center , on the top as I sad before , there is only gravity and friction (static friction) .

24. Feb 4, 2017

### TomHart

How can there be friction if the reaction force is zero? Doesn't one of those statements have to be wrong?

25. Feb 4, 2017

### haruspex

That highlights an unreality in the question. It says there is a constant frictional force all the way. As I keep pointing out (and mamadou ignores) they mean rolling resistance, not friction, but either way it should be proportional to normal force. The normal force changes from ramp to flat, and continuously around the loop.
If we just accept that the question wants us to assume assume there is a constant force f opposing linear motion, we can do that. But it means we might as well take that to be true at the top of the loop also, even though there is no normal force at all. We will be taking f as constant everywhere else in the loop, and it will make no difference whether we take it to be 0 or f at the very top.

Anyway, @mamadou, do you understand that the only radial force at the top will be mg? What F=ma equation does that allow you to write?