Work, force, and distance problem

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The discussion revolves around calculating the work required to lift one end of a 10m, 80kg chain to a height of 6m. Initial calculations incorrectly assumed a constant force over the entire length of the chain, leading to an erroneous work value. Participants emphasize the need to consider the variable mass being lifted as the chain is raised, suggesting the use of linear mass density for accurate integration. The correct approach involves integrating the force over the height raised, accounting for the changing mass above the ground. Ultimately, the focus is on setting up the integral properly to find the correct work done in raising the chain.
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Hi everyone,

Could someone please tell me if this is correct?

Homework Statement


A chain lying on the ground is 10m long and its mass is 80kg. How much work is required to raise one end of the chain to a height of 6m?

Homework Equations


w=int. from a to b f(x)dx
w=(force)(distance)

The Attempt at a Solution


force=(80kg)(9.8 m/s^2)
=784N
distance=10m
w=784(10)
w=7840 J

Thank you very much
 
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No. Thats not right. You're only raising the chain by 6 m. And even so, you can't do it that way. The linear mass density of the chain is constant. So, say you raise the chain by a distance x, as x increases or decreases, the mass raised or lowered also varies. As the linear mass density is constant, you may easily find the mass raised or lowered and the work required to do so.

Alternatively, you may find the position of the center of mass of the chain and find the height by which it has been raised. You will get the same answer. Be careful in what you take the length of the chain to be in this case.
 
chocolatelover said:
How much work is required to raise one end of the chain to a height of 6m?

what does this mean? are u actually lifting the entire chain or only part of it?
 
Thank you very much

Could you show me how to set it up, please?
 
chaoseverlasting said:
So, say you raise the chain by a distance x, as x increases or decreases, the mass raised or lowered also varies. As the linear mass density is constant, you may easily find the mass raised or lowered and the work required to do so.

I am not following this very clearly. Would you do something like this:

\frac{80kg}{10m} = 8 \frac{kg}{m}

and then:

W = \int 8y dy 9.8 J

AAAAHHHHHHHHH! THIS FORMATTING IS MAKING ME LOSE MY MIND! IT IS RUINING MY HOUSEHOLD!

Alternatively, you may find the position of the center of mass of the chain and find the height by which it has been raised. You will get the same answer. Be careful in what you take the length of the chain to be in this case.

I'm not understanding how you would do this one...
 
Last edited:
chocolatelover said:
Hi everyone,

Could someone please tell me if this is correct?

Homework Statement


A chain lying on the ground is 10m long and its mass is 80kg. How much work is required to raise one end of the chain to a height of 6m?

Homework Equations


w=int. from a to b f(x)dx
w=(force)(distance)

The Attempt at a Solution


force=(80kg)(9.8 m/s^2)
=784N
distance=10m
w=784(10)
w=7840 J

Thank you very much


the starting point is correct W = \int f_y dy
The key point is that as you lift the chain, the force you apply varies (it increases as you pull up more and more of the chain). The force is f_y = m(y) g where y is the height at which the extremity of the cahin is.. We have a variable m(y) here which represents the mass of the part of the chain that is above the floor. What you need to figure out is how m varies with y. That should be easy if we assume that the mass is uniformly distributed along the chain.
 
If \lambda =\frac{m}{l} is the linear mass density of the chain (8kg/m), then the weight of the chain a distance x above the ground is \lambda xg

To raise the chain a distance dx above the ground, the work done is dw=\lambda xgdx. Integrating this expression from 0 to 6 gives you the required answer.
 
chaoseverlasting said:
If \lambda =\frac{m}{l} is the linear mass density of the chain (8kg/m), then the weight of the chain a distance x above the ground is \lambda xg

To raise the chain a distance dx above the ground, the work done is dw=\lambda xgdx. Integrating this expression from 0 to 6 gives you the required answer.

I had given all the information for the OP to figure out the last steps. I think that it is always better not to provide a full solution (and is actually against the policy of the website).
 
Thank you very much

Does this look right?

F=80kg/10m=
F=8kg/m

d=(change in x)(xi*)

w=int. o to 10 8xdx
=400kg/m

Thank you very much
 
  • #10
chocolatelover said:
Thank you very much

Does this look right?

F=80kg/10m=
F=8kg/m

d=(change in x)(xi*)

w=int. o to 10 8xdx
=400kg/m

Thank you very much

Isn't the distance 6m ?

How much work is required to raise one end of the chain to a height of 6m?
 
  • #11
chocolatelover said:
Thank you very much

Does this look right?

F=80kg/10m=
F=8kg/m
You should not call this F. It's a linear mass density so we usually call this \lambda
d=(change in x)(xi*)
I am not sure what this means
w=int. o to 10 8xdx
=400kg/m

Thank you very much
No. First, your limits of integration are wrong. secondly, your result should have the units of energy which it has not. You di dnot use the correct formula for the integrand.
 
  • #12
Thank you very much
 
  • #13
Does 144kg/m look right?

int. 0 to 6 (8x)dx=
144

Thank you very much
 
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