IPhO 1972 · Theory problem 1

Three cylinders on an inclined plane

Three cylinders with the same mass, the same length and the same external radius are initially resting on an inclined plane. The coefficient of sliding friction on the inclined plane, \(\mu\), is known and has the same value for all the cylinders. The first cylinder is empty (tube) , the second is homogeneous filled, and the third has a cavity exactly like the first, but closed with two negligible mass lids and filled with a liquid with the same density like the cylinder’s walls. The friction between the liquid and the cylinder wall is considered negligible. The density of the material of the first cylinder is \(n\) times greater than that of the second or of the third cylinder.

Determine:

a) The linear acceleration of the cylinders in the non-sliding case. Compare all the accelerations.

b) Condition for angle \(\alpha\) of the inclined plane so that no cylinders is sliding.

c) The reciprocal ratios of the angular accelerations in the case of roll over with sliding of all the three cylinders. Make a comparison between these accelerations.

d) The interaction force between the liquid and the walls of the cylinder in the case of sliding of this cylinder, knowing that the liquid mass is \(m_l\).

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Let \(R\) be the common external radius and \(\beta_i\) the angular acceleration of the solid part of cylinder \(i\). Let \(\hat{\mathbf e}_{\parallel}\) point downhill and \(\hat{\mathbf e}_{\perp}\) point normally away from the plane. The comparisons below assume genuine cavities, \(n>1\), and \(0<\alpha<\pi/2\).

  • a) The accelerations downhill are \[ \boxed{ a_1=\frac{2n}{4n-1}g\sin\alpha,\qquad a_2=\frac23g\sin\alpha,\qquad a_3=\frac{2n^2}{2n^2+2n-1}g\sin\alpha } \] and \[ \boxed{a_1<a_2<a_3<g\sin\alpha.} \]

  • b) If the given \(\mu\) also represents the limiting static-friction coefficient, \[ \boxed{\tan\alpha\leq\mu\frac{4n-1}{2n-1}.} \] Cylinder 1 sets the limiting condition. If \(\mu\) denotes strictly kinetic friction, the static-friction coefficients are additionally needed for an exact no-sliding condition.

  • c) For nonzero sliding friction, \[ \boxed{\beta_1:\beta_2:\beta_3=n:(2n-1):n^2,\qquad \beta_1<\beta_2<\beta_3.} \] Equivalently, the inverse accelerations satisfy \[ \boxed{\frac1{\beta_1}:\frac1{\beta_2}:\frac1{\beta_3} =\frac1n:\frac1{2n-1}:\frac1{n^2}.} \]

  • d) The resultant force exerted by the walls on the liquid is \[ \boxed{ \mathbf F_{\mathrm{walls}\to l} =m_lg\cos\alpha \left(\hat{\mathbf e}_{\perp}-\mu\hat{\mathbf e}_{\parallel}\right). } \] Hence the interaction-force magnitude is \[ \boxed{F=m_lg\cos\alpha\sqrt{1+\mu^2}.} \] The force on the liquid makes an angle \(\arctan\mu\) with the outward normal, towards uphill. The force on the walls is equal and opposite.

Solution

Let the common total mass be \(M\), the common length be \(L\), and the cavity radius of cylinders 1 and 3 be \(r\). Denote the density of cylinder 2, the walls of cylinder 3, and its liquid by \(\rho\). Cylinder 1 has density \(n\rho\).

Equality of the masses gives \[ M=\rho\pi R^2L=n\rho\pi(R^2-r^2)L. \] Therefore, \[ \boxed{\frac{r^2}{R^2}=\frac{n-1}{n}.} \] The mass of the third cylinder’s shell and its liquid mass are consequently \[ M_{\mathrm{shell},3}=\frac{M}{n}, \qquad m_l=M\frac{n-1}{n}. \]

We treat the cylinders as rigid, neglect rolling resistance, and model the completely enclosed liquid as incompressible and inviscid. Rotation of the circular wall does not impose tangential motion on this liquid. Pressure forces exert no torque about the cylinder axis, so the initially nonrotating liquid translates with the cylinder without spinning.

Thus the entire mass \(M\) contributes to translation, but only the shell contributes to cylinder 3’s rotational inertia. Using the axial moment of inertia \(\tfrac12m(R^2+r^2)\) of a uniform annular cylinder, \[ I_1=\frac12M(R^2+r^2) =MR^2\frac{2n-1}{2n}, \] \[ I_2=\frac12MR^2, \] \[ I_3=\frac12\frac{M}{n}(R^2+r^2) =MR^2\frac{2n-1}{2n^2}. \] Here \(I_3\) denotes the inertia of the rotating shell.

Define the dimensionless inertias \[ k_i=\frac{I_i}{MR^2}, \qquad k_1=\frac{2n-1}{2n},\quad k_2=\frac12,\quad k_3=\frac{2n-1}{2n^2}. \]

a) Linear accelerations without sliding

Let \(f_i\) be the static-friction force, directed uphill. Newton’s second law along the plane and the rotational equation about the cylinder axis give \[ Ma_i=Mg\sin\alpha-f_i, \qquad I_i\beta_i=f_iR. \] For rolling without slipping, \[ a_i=R\beta_i. \] Therefore, \[ f_i=\frac{I_i}{R^2}a_i=Mk_i a_i, \] and hence \[ a_i=\frac{g\sin\alpha}{1+k_i}. \] Substituting the three inertias, \[ \boxed{ a_1=\frac{2n}{4n-1}g\sin\alpha,\qquad a_2=\frac23g\sin\alpha,\qquad a_3=\frac{2n^2}{2n^2+2n-1}g\sin\alpha. } \]

For \(n>1\), \[ k_1-k_2=\frac{n-1}{2n}>0, \qquad k_2-k_3=\frac{(n-1)^2}{2n^2}>0. \] Since \(a_i\) decreases as \(k_i\) increases, \[ \boxed{a_1<a_2<a_3<g\sin\alpha.} \] The liquid-filled cylinder accelerates fastest because its liquid adds translating mass without adding rotating inertia.

b) Condition for all cylinders to roll without sliding

There is no acceleration normal to the plane, so each cylinder has normal reaction \[ N=Mg\cos\alpha. \] The static friction required for rolling is \[ f_i=Mg\sin\alpha\frac{k_i}{1+k_i}, \] giving \[ \frac{f_i}{N}=\frac{k_i}{1+k_i}\tan\alpha. \]

To distinguish static and sliding friction explicitly, let \(\mu_{s,i}\) denote the limiting static-friction coefficient for cylinder \(i\). All three can roll without slipping precisely when \[ \boxed{ \tan\alpha\leq \min\left\{ \mu_{s,1}\frac{4n-1}{2n-1},\; 3\mu_{s,2},\; \mu_{s,3}\frac{2n^2+2n-1}{2n-1} \right\}. } \]

Under the usual single-coefficient idealization, \(\mu_{s,1}=\mu_{s,2}=\mu_{s,3}=\mu\). Since \(k_1>k_2>k_3\), cylinder 1 requires the largest friction relative to its normal reaction and therefore sets the bound: \[ \boxed{ \tan\alpha\leq\mu\frac{4n-1}{2n-1}, \quad\text{or}\quad \alpha\leq\arctan\!\left(\mu\frac{4n-1}{2n-1}\right). } \] Equality corresponds to limiting static friction for cylinder 1.

c) Angular-acceleration ratios when all three slide

In the stipulated regime, the cylinders slip downhill relative to the plane. Kinetic friction acts uphill and has the same magnitude for each: \[ f=\mu Mg\cos\alpha. \] Thus their translational accelerations are equal: \[ \boxed{a_{\mathrm{sl}}=g(\sin\alpha-\mu\cos\alpha).} \]

Their angular accelerations follow from \[ I_i\beta_i=fR, \] without imposing the no-slip relation \(a=R\beta\). Consequently, \[ \boxed{ \beta_1=\frac{2n}{2n-1}\frac{\mu g\cos\alpha}{R},\qquad \beta_2=2\frac{\mu g\cos\alpha}{R},\qquad \beta_3=\frac{2n^2}{2n-1}\frac{\mu g\cos\alpha}{R}. } \] Removing the common factor gives \[ \boxed{\beta_1:\beta_2:\beta_3=n:(2n-1):n^2.} \]

The mutual ratios are \[ \frac{\beta_2}{\beta_1}=\frac{2n-1}{n},\qquad \frac{\beta_3}{\beta_2}=\frac{n^2}{2n-1},\qquad \frac{\beta_3}{\beta_1}=n. \] For \(n>1\), \[ 2n-1>n,\qquad n^2-(2n-1)=(n-1)^2>0, \] so \[ \boxed{\beta_1<\beta_2<\beta_3.} \]

As a consistency check, downhill slipping from rest requires \(a_{\mathrm{sl}}-R\beta_i>0\). In the single-coefficient model, all three satisfy this when \[ \tan\alpha> \mu\frac{2n^2+2n-1}{2n-1}. \] Cylinder 3 is the last to begin slipping as the inclination increases.

d) Interaction force between the liquid and the walls

The liquid’s centre of mass accelerates downhill with the sliding cylinder: \[ a_{\mathrm{sl}}=g(\sin\alpha-\mu\cos\alpha). \]

Let \(F_{\parallel}\) and \(F_{\perp}\) be the components of the resultant force exerted by the walls on the liquid, positive downhill and normally away from the plane. Applying Newton’s second law to the liquid alone, \[ F_{\parallel}+m_lg\sin\alpha=m_la_{\mathrm{sl}}, \] \[ F_{\perp}-m_lg\cos\alpha=0. \] Hence \[ F_{\parallel}=-\mu m_lg\cos\alpha, \qquad F_{\perp}=m_lg\cos\alpha. \]

These components arise from the resultant pressure force; an uphill component does not require viscous friction between the liquid and the wall. Therefore, \[ \boxed{ \mathbf F_{\mathrm{walls}\to l} =m_lg\cos\alpha \left(\hat{\mathbf e}_{\perp}-\mu\hat{\mathbf e}_{\parallel}\right) } \] and \[ \boxed{ F=\sqrt{F_{\parallel}^2+F_{\perp}^2} =m_lg\cos\alpha\sqrt{1+\mu^2}. } \] Its inclination from the outward normal towards uphill is \[ \boxed{\theta=\arctan\mu.} \] By Newton’s third law, the liquid exerts the opposite force on the walls.

The solution was checked against the official solution.