Pendulum attached to a rotating vertical disk

In summary, a pendulum attached to a rotating vertical disk demonstrates the interplay between rotational motion and gravitational forces. As the disk spins, the pendulum's behavior is influenced by the disk's angular velocity, leading to complex motion patterns. The system can exhibit various dynamics, including precession and changes in the pendulum's equilibrium position, highlighting principles of classical mechanics and the effects of centrifugal forces. This setup is often used in experiments to study oscillations and rotational dynamics.
  • #1
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Homework Statement
I try to derive coordinates for a mass on a rotating pendulum using a different coordinate system
Relevant Equations
$$(x,y)$$
For this problem,
nBGOVfUox0x9n0dkz5EMPFanasHH6gtnK2EIj5snnUjWHO3YJ0.png

I correctly got the same coordinates for the pendulum mass using another coordinate system. The coordinate system I used was the other coordinate system rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees. Why is the pendulum mass coordinates invariant in my cartesian coordinate system (x̄,ȳ)?

Thanks for any help!
 
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  • #2
ChiralSuperfields said:
Homework Statement: I try to derive coordinates for a mass on a rotating pendulum using a different coordinate system
Relevant Equations: $$(x,y)$$

For this problem,
View attachment 343207
I correctly got the same coordinates for the pendulum mass using another coordinate system. The coordinate system I used was the other coordinate system rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees. Why is the pendulum mass coordinates invariant in my cartesian coordinate system (x̄,ȳ)?

Thanks for any help!
Do you mean that your system was x positive to the right and y positive up?
In that system it would be ##x=a\cos(\omega t)+b\sin(\theta)##, ##y=a\sin(\omega t)-b\cos(\theta)##.
 
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  • #3
haruspex said:
Do you mean that your system was x positive to the right and y positive up?
In that system it would be ##x=a\cos(\omega t)+b\sin(\theta)##, ##y=a\sin(\omega t)-b\cos(\theta)##.
Thank you for your reply @haruspex!

Yes you are correct!

Thanks!
 

FAQ: Pendulum attached to a rotating vertical disk

What is a pendulum attached to a rotating vertical disk?

A pendulum attached to a rotating vertical disk is a system where a pendulum is fixed at a pivot point on a disk that is rotating around its central axis. This setup allows the pendulum to swing while the disk rotates, creating complex motion due to the interaction between the gravitational force acting on the pendulum and the centrifugal force resulting from the disk's rotation.

How does the rotation of the disk affect the motion of the pendulum?

The rotation of the disk introduces additional forces on the pendulum, specifically the centrifugal force, which acts outward from the center of the disk. This force alters the effective gravitational field experienced by the pendulum, changing its equilibrium position and the characteristics of its oscillation, such as frequency and amplitude.

What are the applications of studying a pendulum on a rotating disk?

This system can be used to study dynamics in non-inertial reference frames, investigate stability and control in rotating systems, and explore concepts in classical mechanics, such as angular momentum and energy conservation. It also has applications in engineering, robotics, and even in understanding certain phenomena in astrophysics.

Can the pendulum achieve stable equilibrium in this system?

Yes, under certain conditions, the pendulum can achieve stable equilibrium. The position of stable equilibrium will depend on the rotation rate of the disk and the length of the pendulum. If the rotation rate is sufficiently high, the pendulum may stabilize at an angle away from the vertical due to the balance of gravitational and centrifugal forces.

What equations govern the motion of the pendulum on a rotating disk?

The motion can be described using the equations of motion derived from Newton's second law or Lagrangian mechanics. The key equations involve the angular displacement of the pendulum, the angular velocity of the disk, and the forces acting on the pendulum. These equations can become quite complex, often resulting in coupled differential equations that require numerical methods for solutions in many cases.

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