Sample Problems (cont.

Chris Dackow and Bridget Rauch

Period 1

May 24, 2011

In the figure below, the pulley is a solid disk of mass M and radius R, with rotational inertia
M R2 /2. Two blocks, one of mass m1 and one of mass m2 , hang from either side of the pulley by
a light cord. Initially the system is at rest, with block one on the floor and block 2 held at height
h above the floor. Block 2 is then released and allowed to fall Give your answers in therms of m1 ,
m2 , M , R, h and g.

(a) What is the speed of block 2 just before it strikes the ground?

(b) What is the angular speed of the pulley at this moment?

(c) What is the angular displacement of the pulley?

(d) How long does it take for block 2 to fall to the floor?

Solution:

1
Dackow/Rauch May 24, 2011

(a) Apply Conservation of Mechanical Energy, remembering to take into account the translational
kinetic energy of the falling block, rising block, and rotating pulley:

Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf (1)
1 1 1
0 + m2 gh = ( m1 v 2 + m2 v 2 + Iω 2 ) + m1 gh (2)
2 2 2
1 1 1 1 v2
= [ m1 v 2 + m2 v 2 + ( M R2 )( )] + m1 gh (3)
2 2 2 2 R
1 2 1
(m2 − m1 )gh = v (m1 + m2 + M ) (4)
2
s 2
2(m2 − m1 )gh
v = (5)
m1 + m2 + 12 M

(b) Using the equation v = Rω, we find

s
v 1 2(m2 − m1 )gh
ω= =
R R m1 + m2 + 12 M
(c) Since block 2 (and block 1) moved a distance h during the motion, a point on the rim of
h
the pulley must move through a distance h. Therefore, ∆θ = R

(d) Using basic kinematics:

∆s
∆t =
v̄
v
Where v̄ is the average velocity of the entire time of motion, or 2 and s is the distance travelled.

∆s
∆t = (1)
v̄
∆s
= v (2)
2
2h
= (3)
vs
m1 + m2 + 12 M
= 2h (4)
2(m2 − m1 )gh
s
2m1 + 2m2 + M
= h (5)
(m2 − m1 )gh

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