AMacias2008
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Homework Statement
A mass of 40.98kg is attached to a light string which is wrapped around a cylindrical spool of radius 10cm and moment of inertia 4.00kg * m^2. The spool is suspended from the ceiling and the mass is then released from rest a distance 5.70m above the floor. How long does it take to reach the floor?
A) 1.13s
B) 3.54 s
C) 4.98s
D)3.37s
E)7.02
Homework Equations
\sum\tau=I\alpha (Equation 1)
a_{tangential}=R\alpha (equation 2)
y_{f}=y_{i}+v_{i}t-1/2gt^{2} (equation 3)
The Attempt at a Solution
Found the torque by using equation 1.
\tau=I\alpha=Fl=(40.98kg)(9.80m/s^2)(.1m)=40.1604N*m
Used the above result to find the acceleration along the y-axis of the mass using equation 2.
a_{tangential}=R\alpha
Solve for \alpha, substitute into equation 1, solve for acceleration,
a_{tangential}=(\tau*R)/I = 1.00401m/s^2
Substitue the acceleration into equation 3. Since it starts from rest, initial velocity is zero we end up with...
Δy=1/2at^{2}
Δy=5.70m, a=1.00401m/s^2, solve for t, I get...
t=√(Δy*2)/a = 3.37s.
However, the answer is B, 3.54s. Been trying to figure this out the past 2 hours and I've come here because I really don't know what I did wrong. Thank you for your time and help.