Why Do Angular Momentum and Energy Calculations Differ in a Collision Problem?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a vertical wooden bar pivoted at one end, with a bullet colliding inelastically at its midpoint. The objective is to determine the angular velocity of the combined system immediately after the collision, utilizing principles of conservation of angular momentum and energy.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply both conservation of angular momentum and conservation of energy to find the angular velocity, leading to differing results. Some participants question the validity of energy conservation in this context, noting the inelastic nature of the collision.

Discussion Status

Participants have identified a key misunderstanding regarding the conservation of mechanical energy in inelastic collisions. Clarifications have been provided regarding the correctness of the angular momentum approach, while the energy loss is suggested to be calculated through a specific integral method.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing discussion about the assumptions related to energy conservation in inelastic collisions, and the original poster expresses uncertainty about the differences in their calculations.

uq_civediv
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the problem is the following:

we have a vertical wooden bar pivoted from the top end, length [tex]2 l[/tex], mass [tex]M[/tex]

a bullet with mass [tex]m[/tex] hits it in the middle at velocity [tex]v[/tex] and gets stuck

i am asked to find the angular velocity [tex]\omega[/tex] of the system bar+bullet immediately after the hit

i do know this calls for applying the conservation of energy or angular momentum, for some reason however i get different results

Both if them involve the moment of inertia of the combined system, [tex]I_{\Sigma}=\frac{1}{3} M (2l)^2 + m l^2 = \frac{4}{3} M l^2 + m l^2[/tex]

Conservation of angular momentum gives me [tex]m v l = \omega I_{\Sigma}[/tex], from which [tex]\omega = \frac{m v l}{I_{\Sigma}} = \frac{m v l}{\frac{4}{3}M l^2+m l^2} = \frac{m}{\frac{4}{3}M+m} \cdot \frac{v}{l}[/tex]

Whereas conservation of energy says [tex]\frac{m v^2}{2} = \frac{\omega^2 I_{\Sigma}}{2}[/tex], which gives [tex]\omega = \sqrt{\frac{m}{I_{\Sigma}}} v = \sqrt{\frac{m}{\frac{4}{3}M + m}}\cdot \frac{v}{l}[/tex]

So the big question is where did I mess up this time. I know it's something really basic because I can't see it. Usually i ask a deskmate or someone to have a look if they spot something really simple but since nobody's around I had to come here.

P.S. while you're at it, why do my [tex]m[/tex], [tex]v[/tex] and [tex]\omega[/tex] look superscripted but [tex]M[/tex] and [tex]2 l[/tex] don't ?
 
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Your only mistake is in thinking that mechanical energy is conserved--it's not. This is an example of a perfectly inelastic collision.

uq_civediv said:
P.S. while you're at it, why do my [tex]m[/tex], [tex]v[/tex] and [tex]\omega[/tex] look superscripted but [tex]M[/tex] and [tex]2 l[/tex] don't ?
To use Latex in the middle of a line of text and have it appear even, use "itex" as your delimiter, not "tex". It gives you [itex]m[/itex] instead of [tex]m[/tex].
 
Last edited:
so the angular momentum one is correct ? (just clarifying...)

and the loss in energy is the good ol' [tex]\int F ds[/tex] over the distance the bullet travels into the rod !
 
uq_civediv said:
so the angular momentum one is correct ? (just clarifying...)
Yes.

and the loss in energy is the good ol' [tex]\int F ds[/tex] over the distance the bullet travels into the rod !
Good luck calculating that! To find the loss in energy, just calculate the final KE and compare it to the initial.
 
Doc Al said:
Good luck calculating that! To find the loss in energy, just calculate the final KE and compare it to the initial.

o no wasn't going to do that, good luck indeed
just realising where the energy went.
case closed anyway
 

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