Query 12

course PHY 201

June 28 around 12:40 pm

012. `query 12*********************************************

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:

We will consider the positive direction in the direction of which the system accelerates. The m1 on table top will have a net force of 0, because the force of gravity is equal and opposite of the normal force between the tabletop and the mass. The m2 will have a net force, which would be: m2 * 9.8 m/s^2 = Fnet. The acceleration of the system is the total mass divided by the net force: Fnet / (m1 + m2) = a m/s^2. The change in PE is: `dPE = weight * `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.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Ok, I got everything until the gravitational PE. I see where it comes from, but I am not getting how you would put these variables together to get the change in PE.

the hanging mass moves downward to its PE decreases

the other mass moves neither upward nor downward so its PE remains unchanged

the weight of the hanging mass is m2 * g, so the change in PE is therefore (m2 * g) * (-`dy).

m1, remaining at constant altitude, contributes nothing to the change in PE.

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Self-critique rating #$&* 3

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Question: `q How would friction change your answers to the preceding question?

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Your solution:

If there is friction on the system, then the answer would change considerably. You would first find the normal force on the table top mass: m1 * 9.8 m/s^2 = F_norm. So, the frictional force would be: (% friction) * F_norm = -F_fric. So, the net force would be: F_original_net – F_fric = F_net. Then, the acceleration will now be: F_net / m_total = -a m/s^2.

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): OK

I think there the same.

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Self-critique rating #$&* 2

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Question: `q Explain 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:

The rubber band is stretched a distance of s_band. If the object moves up the incline it will continue until the elastic PE has been changed to PE, so the gravitational PE = elastic PE.

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. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I understand now. I think I got confused about the gravitational PE and the elastic PE.

your thoughts weren't bad; there are incline situations where you do have to consider both gravitational and elastic PE

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Self-critique rating #$&* 3

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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:

The slope of the line is the rise / run, which is the F / stretch of the rubber band. So, the area under the slope would be the PE. The slope therefore represents the change in PE. I think that the work done BY 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. **

Query Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced as a result of this assignment.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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?

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 rating #$&* 3

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&#This looks good. See my notes. Let me know if you have any questions. &#

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