Dynamics of a Disk Pulley with a Hanging Mass

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Rotational Motion Beginner rigid body dynamics

Source: High school physics (Chinese)

Problem Sets:

Rigid body - 1111

Problem

As shown in Figure, the disk from the previous problem ($M=3.0$ kg, $R=0.15$ m) has a string wrapped around it. An object with weight $W=5.0$ N is hung from the string. The system is released from rest.

  1. What is the angular acceleration of the disk?
  2. What is the tangential acceleration of the disk's edge?
  3. What is the angular velocity of the disk at $t=2.0$ s?
  4. What is the velocity of the object at $t=2.0$ s?
  5. What is the rotational kinetic energy of the disk at $t=2.0$ s?
  6. What is the work done on the pulley by the tension in the string by $t=2.0$ s?
P0628-problem-1

P0628-problem-1

[Q1] $\alpha = 16.6$ rad/s² [Q2] $a = 2.49$ m/s² [Q3] $\omega = 33.2$ rad/s [Q4] $v = 4.98$ m/s [Q5] $K_r = 18.6$ J [Q6] $W_T = 18.6$ J

Let $m$ be the hanging mass ($mg = W$) and $T$ be the tension. The system's linear acceleration is $a$ and angular acceleration is $\alpha$. Applying Newton's second law to the hanging mass:

$$mg - T = ma$$

Applying Newton's second law for rotation to the disk ($I = \frac{1}{2}MR^2$):

$$\tau = TR = I\alpha$$

The no-slip condition relates linear and angular acceleration: $a = \alpha R$. From the torque equation, we find the tension: $T = \frac{I\alpha}{R} = \frac{(\frac{1}{2}MR^2)(a/R)}{R} = \frac{1}{2}Ma$. Substitute $T$ into the first equation:

$$mg - \frac{1}{2}Ma = ma$$

Solve for the acceleration $a$:

$$a = \frac{mg}{m + M/2} = \frac{W}{W/g + M/2}$$

Use $g=9.8$ m/s². The remaining quantities are found using kinematics from rest ($\omega_0=0, v_0=0$):

$\alpha = a/R$, $\omega = \alpha t$, $v = at$, $K_r = \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2$.

By the rotational work-energy theorem, the work done by the tension on the pulley, $W_T$, equals the change in the disk's rotational kinetic energy: $W_T = K_r$.