Query 12

#$&*

course Phy 231

7/22/11 5:30 am

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?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Fnet = m2 * 9.8 m/s/s

The forces on m1 cancel out.

Fnet = m * a

and a = Fnet / m

a = (m2 * 9.8 m/s/s) / (m1+m2)

Since m2 is the hanging weight.

PE = - m2 * g * dy

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

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)

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `qHow would friction change your answers to the

preceding question?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Friction would be part of Fnet

Fnet = m2 * 9.8 m/s/s - Ffriction

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

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. **

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

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.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

PE = the area under the graph

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

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.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

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?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Yes it does. It is either depending on whether or not the

rubberband is being stretched or released.

confidence rating #$&*:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

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.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): OK

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

Query Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced

as a result of this assignment.

"

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

Query Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced

as a result of this assignment.

"

Self-critique (if necessary):

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

#*&!

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