What Speed Makes a Pendulum Oscillate Most in a Moving Train?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a pendulum of length 39 cm suspended in a railway car, questioning the speed at which the pendulum would oscillate with the largest amplitude. The context includes a mention of the length of the rails being 25 m, which raises questions about its relevance to the pendulum's motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express confusion regarding the question's intent, particularly about the implications of constant velocity and the significance of the rail length. Some suggest seeking clarification from a TA or professor, while others propose alternative interpretations, such as the possibility of a model train or the effects of rail joints on the pendulum's motion.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants actively questioning the assumptions and definitions presented in the problem. Suggestions for clarification and alternative interpretations indicate a productive exploration of the topic, though no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of additional information in the problem statement, which may affect their understanding and approach to the question.

Jordan&physics
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Mentor Note -- thread moved from the technical forums, so no HH Tempate is shown...>> [/color]
1. (10 points) A pendulum of length l = 39 cm is suspended in a railway car. At what train speed would the pendulum be oscillating with largest amplitude ? The length of the rails is l = 25 m.

I am just not sure what the question is asking :-/ Why would the pendulum oscillate if the train was moving at a constant velocity? It doesn't specify an acceleration, and I don't know what they mean by specifying the "length of rails." Please, I am really lost on this one.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Jordan&physics said:
1. (10 points) A pendulum of length l = 39 cm is suspended in a railway car. At what train speed would the pendulum be oscillating with largest amplitude ? The length of the rails is l = 25 m.

I am just not sure what the question is asking :-/ Why would the pendulum oscillate if the train was moving at a constant velocity? It doesn't specify an acceleration, and I don't know what they mean by specifying the "length of rails." Please, I am really lost on this one.
Yeah, based on what you posted, this question makes no sense IMO. Can you scan the problem so we can see if there is additional info?
 
I actually copied and pasted it directly from the problem set. There was absolutely no more information given.
 
Yikes, can you e-mail a TA or prof for clarification?
 
Could this be a model train, flying round and round on a circular track, circumference 25m?
 
Could be that the finite rail lengths are intended to be responsible for a "clickety-clack" that slightly jounces the train carriage at regular intervals. A tuned system like a pendulum would be sensitive to particular frequencies...
 
gneill said:
Could be that the finite rail lengths are intended to be responsible for a "clickety-clack" that slightly jounces the train carriage at regular intervals. A tuned system like a pendulum would be sensitive to particular frequencies...
http://www.infovisual.info/05/img_en/046%20Railroad%20track.jpg
Listen the clickety-clack sound
 

Similar threads

What happens to a pendulum clock in a lift when the cable breaks?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Seeking advice on "simple" pendulum problem
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
2K
Small oscillation frequency of rod and disk pendulum
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Finding g from a Compound Pendulum Graph
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K
Oscillation related to electromagnetic induction
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Solving the Synchronized Oscillation of Two Pendulums
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
6K
What is the Frequency of Small Amplitude Oscillations in an Inverted Pendulum?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
5K
Driven Oscillation: Springboard diving
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Velocity of bullet before hitting a pendulum
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
What is the magnitude of gravity of a pendulum that is moved
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K