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From [link] (a), we see the force vectors involved in preventing the wheel from slipping. In (b), point P that touches the surface is at rest relative to the surface. Relative to the center of mass, point P has velocity R ω i ^ , where R is the radius of the wheel and ω is the wheel’s angular velocity about its axis. Since the wheel is rolling, the velocity of P with respect to the surface is its velocity with respect to the center of mass plus the velocity of the center of mass with respect to the surface:

v P = R ω i ^ + v CM i ^ .

Since the velocity of P relative to the surface is zero, v P = 0 , this says that

v CM = R ω .

Thus, the velocity of the wheel’s center of mass is its radius times the angular velocity about its axis. We show the correspondence of the linear variable on the left side of the equation with the angular variable on the right side of the equation. This is done below for the linear acceleration.

If we differentiate [link] on the left side of the equation, we obtain an expression for the linear acceleration of the center of mass. On the right side of the equation, R is a constant and since α = d ω d t , we have

a CM = R α .

Furthermore, we can find the distance the wheel travels in terms of angular variables by referring to [link] . As the wheel rolls from point A to point B , its outer surface maps onto the ground by exactly the distance travelled, which is d CM . We see from [link] that the length of the outer surface that maps onto the ground is the arc length R θ . Equating the two distances, we obtain

d CM = R θ .
A wheel, radius R, rolling on a horizontal surface and moving to the right at v sub C M is drawn in two positions. In the first position, point A on the wheel is at the bottom, in contact with the surface, and point B is at the top. The arc length from A to B along the rim of the wheel is highlighted and labeled as being R theta. In the second position, point B on the wheel is at the bottom, in contact with the surface, and point A is at the top. The horizontal distance between the wheel’s point of contact with the surface in the two illustrated positions is d sub C M. The arc length A B is now on the other side of the wheel.
As the wheel rolls on the surface, the arc length R θ from A to B maps onto the surface, corresponding to the distance d CM that the center of mass has moved.

Rolling down an inclined plane

A solid cylinder rolls down an inclined plane without slipping, starting from rest. It has mass m and radius r . (a) What is its acceleration? (b) What condition must the coefficient of static friction μ S satisfy so the cylinder does not slip?

Strategy

Draw a sketch and free-body diagram, and choose a coordinate system. We put x in the direction down the plane and y upward perpendicular to the plane. Identify the forces involved. These are the normal force, the force of gravity, and the force due to friction. Write down Newton’s laws in the x - and y -directions, and Newton’s law for rotation, and then solve for the acceleration and force due to friction.

Solution

  1. The free-body diagram and sketch are shown in [link] , including the normal force, components of the weight, and the static friction force. There is barely enough friction to keep the cylinder rolling without slipping. Since there is no slipping, the magnitude of the friction force is less than or equal to μ S N . Writing down Newton’s laws in the x - and y -directions, we have
    F x = m a x ; F y = m a y .

    A diagram of a cylinder rolling without slipping down an inclined plane and a free body diagram of the cylinder. On the left is an illustration showing the inclined plane, which makes an angle of theta with the horizontal. The cylinder is shown to be at rest at the top, then moving along the incline when it is lower. On the right is a free body diagram. The x y coordinate system is tilted so that the positive x direction is parallel to the inclined plane and points toward its bottom, and the positive y direction is outward, perpendicular to the plane. Four forces are shown. N j hat acts at the center of the cylinder and points in the positive y direction. m g sine theta i hat acts at the center of the cylinder and points in the positive x direction. Minus m g cosine theta j hat acts at the center of the cylinder and points in the negative y direction. Minus f sub s i hat acts at the point of contact and points in the negative x direction.
    A solid cylinder rolls down an inclined plane without slipping from rest. The coordinate system has x in the direction down the inclined plane and y perpendicular to the plane. The free-body diagram is shown with the normal force, the static friction force, and the components of the weight m g . Friction makes the cylinder roll down the plane rather than slip.

    Substituting in from the free-body diagram,
    m g sin θ f S = m ( a CM ) x , N m g cos θ = 0 , f S μ S N ,
    we can then solve for the linear acceleration of the center of mass from these equations:
    ( a CM ) x = g ( sin θ μ S cos θ ) .

    However, it is useful to express the linear acceleration in terms of the moment of inertia. For this, we write down Newton’s second law for rotation,
    τ CM = I CM α .

    The torques are calculated about the axis through the center of mass of the cylinder. The only nonzero torque is provided by the friction force. We have
    f S r = I CM α .

    Finally, the linear acceleration is related to the angular acceleration by
    ( a CM ) x = r α .

    These equations can be used to solve for a CM , α , and f S in terms of the moment of inertia, where we have dropped the x -subscript. We write a CM in terms of the vertical component of gravity and the friction force, and make the following substitutions.
    a CM = g sin θ f S m

    f S = I CM α r = I CM a CM r 2
    From this we obtain
    a CM = g sin θ I CM a CM m r 2 , = m g sin θ m + ( I CM / r 2 ) .

    Note that this result is independent of the coefficient of static friction, μ S .
    Since we have a solid cylinder, from [link] , we have I CM = m r 2 / 2 and
    a CM = m g sin θ m + ( m r 2 / 2 r 2 ) = 2 3 g sin θ .

    Therefore, we have
    α = a CM r = 2 3 r g sin θ .
  2. Because slipping does not occur, f S μ S N . Solving for the friction force,
    f S = I CM α r = I CM ( a CM ) r 2 = I CM r 2 ( m g sin θ m + ( I CM / r 2 ) ) = m g I CM sin θ m r 2 + I CM .

    Substituting this expression into the condition for no slipping, and noting that N = m g cos θ , we have
    m g I CM sin θ m r 2 + I CM μ S m g cos θ

    or
    μ S tan θ 1 + ( m r 2 / I CM ) .

    For the solid cylinder, this becomes
    μ S tan θ 1 + ( 2 m r 2 / m r 2 ) = 1 3 tan θ .
Practice Key Terms 1

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Source:  OpenStax, University physics volume 1. OpenStax CNX. Sep 19, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12031/1.5
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