Rotational Energy: Spherical Shell Mass & Pulley Speed

In summary, a 4.5 kg spherical shell with a radius of 8.5 cm can rotate on a frictionless axis. A massless cord is attached to a small object of mass 0.60 kg and passes over a pulley with a rotational inertia of 3.0*10^-3 kg*m^2 and a radius of 5.0 cm. When released from rest, the object falls 82 cm. Using energy considerations, the angular momentum of the system can be calculated by relating the angular speeds of the sphere and the pulley through the circumferences.
  • #1
king_naeem
8
0
A uniform spherical shell of mass, M=4.5 kg and radius R=8.5 cm can rotate about a vertical axis on frictionless bearings. A massless cord passes around the equator of the shell, over a pulley of rotational inertia I=3.0*10^-3 kg*m^2 and radius r=5.0 cm, and is attached to a small object of mass m=0.60 kg. There is no friction on the pulley's axle; the cord does not slip on the pulley. What is the speed of the object when it has fallen 82 cm after being released from rest? use energy considerations.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
this was my attempt but I'm not getting the right answer:

ok here is how to do it (i think) both the sphere and the pully will have angular speeds so you can figure out there angular momentum via L = Iw now the change in angular momentum of the system must equate to the change in potential energy. further more the angular speeds of the sphere and the pully are related by the relation between the circumferance of the pully and that of the equator of the s
 
  • #3


To solve this problem, we can use the principle of conservation of energy, which states that the total energy of a system remains constant. In this case, the initial energy of the system is equal to the final energy of the system.

Initially, the object is at rest and has only potential energy due to its height above the ground. The potential energy is given by mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.

As the object falls, it gains kinetic energy due to its motion. The kinetic energy is given by 1/2mv^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity.

At the same time, the spherical shell and the pulley are rotating due to the tension in the cord. The rotational energy of the shell is given by 1/2Iω^2, where I is the moment of inertia of the shell and ω is its angular velocity. Similarly, the rotational energy of the pulley is given by 1/2Iω^2, where I is the moment of inertia of the pulley and ω is its angular velocity.

Since the cord does not slip on the pulley, the linear velocity of the object is equal to the angular velocity of the pulley, and the angular velocity of the shell is half of the angular velocity of the pulley.

Using the conservation of energy principle, we can equate the initial potential energy of the object to the final total energy of the system, which includes the kinetic energy of the object and the rotational energy of the shell and pulley.

Thus, we have:

mgh = 1/2mv^2 + 1/2I(ω^2 + ω^2)

Substituting the given values, we get:

(0.60 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(0.82 m) = 1/2(0.60 kg)v^2 + 1/2(3.0*10^-3 kg*m^2)(ω^2 + (1/2ω)^2)

Solving for v, we get:

v = 1.46 m/s

Therefore, the speed of the object when it has fallen 82 cm after being released from rest is 1.46 m/s.
 

FAQ: Rotational Energy: Spherical Shell Mass & Pulley Speed

What is rotational energy?

Rotational energy is the kinetic energy associated with the spinning motion of an object around an axis. It is calculated using the formula E = 1/2 I ω^2, where I is the moment of inertia and ω is the angular velocity.

What is a spherical shell mass?

A spherical shell mass refers to an object with a hollow spherical shape. The mass of a spherical shell is distributed evenly around its surface, making it useful for studying rotational energy.

How does the mass of a spherical shell affect its rotational energy?

The mass of a spherical shell directly affects its rotational energy. As the mass increases, so does the moment of inertia, resulting in a higher rotational energy. This means that a heavier spherical shell will require more energy to rotate at the same speed as a lighter one.

What is the relationship between pulley speed and rotational energy?

The speed of a pulley is directly related to the rotational energy of the system. As the pulley spins faster, the rotational energy increases. This is because the angular velocity, which is used to calculate rotational energy, is directly proportional to the speed of the pulley.

How can the rotational energy of a system be changed?

The rotational energy of a system can be changed by altering the mass or speed of the objects involved. Increasing the mass or speed will result in a higher rotational energy, while decreasing them will lower the rotational energy. Additionally, external forces such as friction can also affect the rotational energy of a system.

Back
Top