PH1 Query 12

#$&*

course PHY 201

If your solution to stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per

instructions at

http://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_

fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm

.

Your solution, attempt at solution. If you are unable

to attempt a solution, give a phrase-by-phrase

interpretation of the problem along with a statement

of what you do or do not understand about it. This

response should be given, based on the work you did in

completing the assignment, before you look at the

given solution.

012. `query 12

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Question: `qQuery set 3 #'s 13-14 If an object

of mass m1 rests on a frictionless tabletop and a mass

m2 hangs over a good pulley by a string attached to

the first object, then what forces act on the two-mass

system and what is the net force on the system? What

would be the acceleration of the system? How much

would gravitational PE change if the hanging mass

descended a distance `dy?

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Your solution:

Fnet = m2*9.8m/s/s,

Acceleration = Fnet/m,

(m2*9.8m/s/s) / m1 + m2.

Gravitational PE,

PE = m*g*h

'PE = PE initial - (m2*g*'dy).

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`a** The net force on the system is the force of

gravity on the suspended weight: Fnet = m2 * 9.8

m/s/s

Gravity also acts on m1 which is balanced by force of

table on m1, so the forces on m1 make no contribution

to Fnet.

Acceleration=net force/total mass = 9.8 m/s^2 * m2 /

(m1+m2).

If the mass m2 descends distance `dy then

gravitational PE decreases by - m2 g * `dy.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AND INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:

Misconception: The tension force contributes to the

net force on the 2-mass system. Student's solution:

The forces acting on the system are the forces which

keep the mass on the table, the tension in the string

joining the two masses, and the weight of the

suspended mass.

The net force should be the suspended mass * accel due

to gravity + Tension.

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT:

String tension shouldn't be counted among the forces

contributing to the net force on the system.

The string tension is internal to the two-mass system.

It doesn't act on the system but within the system.

Net force is therefore suspended mass * accel due to

gravity only

'The forces which keep the mass on the table' is too

vague and probably not appropriate in any case.

Gravity pulls down, slightly bending the table, which

response with an elastic force that exactly balances

the gravitational force. **

STUDENT COMMENT

I don't understand why m1 doesn't affect the net

force. Surely it has to, if mass1 was 90kg, or 90g,

then are they saying that the force would be the same

regardless?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

m1 has no effect on the net force in the given

situation.

Whatever the mass on the tabletop, it experiences a

gravitational force pulling it down, and the tabletop

exerts an equal and opposite force pushing it up. So

the mass of that object contributes nothing to the net

force on the system.

The mass m1 does, however, get accelerated, so m1 does

have a lot to do with how quickly the system

accelerates. The greater the mass m1, the less

accelerating effect the net force will have on the

system.

Also if friction is present, the mass m1 is pulled

against the tabletop by gravity, resulting in

frictional force. The greater the mass m1, the

greater would be the frictional force.

All these ideas are addressed in upcoming questions

and exercises.

STUDENT COMMENT

I understand the first few parts of this problem, but

I am still a little unsure about the gravitational PE.

I knew what information that was required to solve the

problem, but I just thought the solution would be more

that (-m2 * 9.8m/s^2 * ‘dy).

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

Only m2 is changing its altitude, so only m2

experiences a change in gravitational PE.

Equivalently, only m2 experiences a gravitational

force in its direction of motion, so work is done by

gravity on only m2.

STUDENT COMMENT

I forgot that PE = m * g * 'dy. And I did not think

that the table exerting force on the mass took it out

of the system. I understand the idea though.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

the table doesn't take the mass out of the system, but

it does counter the force exerted by gravity on that

mass

so the total mass of the system is still the total of

the accelerating masses, but the net force is just the

force of gravity on the suspended mass, (since the

system is said to be frictionless, there is no

frictional force to consider)

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating:OK

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Question: `qHow would friction change your answers to

the preceding question?

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Your solution:

Friction would cause Fnet and acceleration to

decrease.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`a**Friction would act to oppose the motion of the

mass m1 as it slides across the table, so the net

force would be m2 * g - frictional resistance. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating:OK

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Question: `qExplain how you use a graph of force vs.

stretch for a rubber band to determine the elastic

potential energy stored at a given stretch.

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Your solution:

PE = 'F / 'ds.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`a** If we ignore thermal effects, which you should

note are in fact significant with rubber bands and

cannot in practice be ignored if we want very accurate

results, PE is the work required to stretch the rubber

band. This work is the sum of all F * `ds

contributions from small increments `ds from the

initial to the final position. These contributions

are represented by the areas of narrow trapezoids on a

graph of F vs. stretch. As the trapezoids get thinner

and thinner, the total area of these trapezoids

approaches, the area under the curve between the two

stretches.

So the PE stored is the area under the graph of force

vs. stretch. **

STUDENT QUESTION

I am still a little confused about if the work is

done by the rubber bands, or if the work is done one

the rubber bands.

Would you explain the difference?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

This example might be helpful:

If you pull the end of an anchored rubber band to the

right, it exerts a force to the left, in the direction

opposite motion, so it does negative work during the

process.

You, on the other hand, pull in the direction of

motion and do positive work on the rubber band.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating:1

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Question: `q Does the slope of the F vs stretch

graph represent something? Does the area under the

curve represent the work done? If so, is it work done

BY or work done ON the rubber bands?

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Your solution:

From what I could gather from the notes this would

represent the work done ON the rubber bands.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`a** The rise of the graph is change in force, the run

is change in stretch. So slope = rise / run = change

in force / change in stretch, which the the average

rate at which force changes with respect to stretch.

This basically tells us how much additional force is

exerted per unit change in the length of the rubber

band.

The area is indeed with work done (work is integral of

force with respect to displacement).

If the rubber band pulls against an object as is

returns to equilibrium then the force it exerts is in

the direction of motion and it therefore does positive

work on the object as the object does negative work on

it.

If an object stretches the rubber band then it exerts

a force on the rubber band in the direction of the

rubber band's displacement, and the object does

positive work on the rubber band, while the rubber

band does negative work on it. **

STUDENT QUESTION

Okay, so are you saying that the rubber band could

either be doing work or getting work done on it?

I believe I understand this, but just wanted to double

check.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

Yes, and that depends on whether the rubber band is

being stretched, or contracting.

When it is being stretched positive work is being done

on the rubber band.

After being released the rubber band does positive

work on the object to which its force is applied.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating:3

Query Add comments on any surprises or insights you

experienced as a result of this assignment.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique rating:

Query Add comments on any surprises or insights you

experienced as a result of this assignment.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique rating:

#*&!

&#Your work looks good. Let me know if you have any questions. &#