IPhO 1988 · Theory problem 2

Maxwell's Wheel

Introduction

A cylindrical wheel of uniform density, having the mass M = 0,40 kg, the radius R = 0,060 m and the thickness d = 0,010 m is suspended by means of two light strings of the same length from the ceiling. Each string is wound around the axle of the wheel. Like the strings, the mass of the axle is negligible. When the wheel is turned manually, the strings are wound up until the centre of mass is raised 1,0 m above the floor. If the wheel is allowed to move downward vertically under the pulling force of the gravity, the strings are unwound to the full length of the strings and the wheel reaches the lowest point. The strings then begin to wound in the opposite sense resulting in the wheel being raised upwards.

Analyze and answer the following questions, assuming that the strings are in vertical position and the points where the strings touch the axle are directly below their respective suspending points (see fig. 19.5).

Figure 1

Fig. 19.5

Questions

2.1

Determine the angular speed of the wheel when the centre of mass of the wheel covers the vertical distance s.

2.2

Determine the kinetic energy of the linear motion of the centre of mass \(E_r\) after the wheel travels a distance s = 0,50 m, and calculate the ratio between \(E_r\) and the energy in any other form in this problem up to this point.

Radius of the axle = 0,0030 m

2.3

Determine the tension in the string while the wheel is moving downward.

2.4

Calculate the angular speed \(\omega'\) as a function of the angle \(\Phi\) when the strings begin to unwind themselves in opposite sense as depicted in fig. 19.6.

Sketch a graph of variables which describe the motion (in cartesian system which suits the problem) and also the speed of the centre of mass as a function of \(\Phi\).

Figure 2

Fig. 19.6

2.5

If the string can withstand a maximum tension \(T_m=10\ \mathrm N\), find the maximum length of the string which may be unwound without breaking by the wheel.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Here \(r=0.0030\ \mathrm m\), and numerical evaluations use \(g=9.81\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}\). For the reversal, let \(\ell\) be the preceding straight descent and define \(\Phi=0\) at entry, \(\Phi=\pi/2\) at the bottom, and \(\Phi=\pi\) at exit. Parts 2.4–2.5 use the fixed-contact, semicircular reversal depicted in Fig. 19.6; this is an idealization: except at \(\Phi=\pi/2\), the required contact force has a horizontal component, which vertical strings cannot supply.

  • 2.1 \[ \boxed{\omega(s)=\sqrt{\frac{4gs}{R^2+2r^2}}.} \] At \(s=0.50\ \mathrm m\), \(\omega=73.6\ \mathrm{rad\,s^{-1}}\).

  • 2.2 \[ \boxed{E_r=\frac{Mgs}{201}=9.76\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm J \simeq9.8\ \mathrm{mJ}.} \] With gravitational potential energy measured from the floor, \[ \boxed{E_r:E_{\rm rot}:U=1:200:201.} \] Thus \(E_r/E_{\rm rot}=1/200\), and \(E_r/(Mgs)=1/201\).

  • 2.3 The tension in each string during ordinary downward unwinding is \[ \boxed{T=\frac{MgR^2}{2(R^2+2r^2)} =1.95\ \mathrm N\simeq2.0\ \mathrm N.} \]

  • 2.4 \[ \boxed{\omega'(\Phi)= \sqrt{\frac{4g(\ell+r\sin\Phi)}{R^2+2r^2}}, \qquad 0\leq\Phi\leq\pi.} \] Taking the entry position of the centre as the origin, with \(x\) rightward and \(y\) upward, \[ \boxed{x=r(1-\cos\Phi),\qquad y=-r\sin\Phi,} \] \[ \boxed{v_x=r\omega'\sin\Phi,\qquad v_y=-r\omega'\cos\Phi,\qquad v=r\omega'.} \] The trajectory is a lower semicircle. The speed is symmetric about \(\pi/2\) and reaches its maximum there.

  • 2.5 The strength-limited unwound length of each string is \[ \boxed{\ell_{\max} =\frac{R^2+2r^2}{4gr} \left(\frac{2T_m}{M}-g\right)-r =1.23\ \mathrm m\approx1.2\ \mathrm m.} \] The floor imposes a shorter limit in the stated setup: \[ \boxed{\ell\leq h-R-r=0.937\ \mathrm m\approx0.94\ \mathrm m.} \] At that limiting clearance, the peak tension is only \(8.1\ \mathrm N\) per string.

Solution

We assume release from rest, inextensible strings, no slipping during winding or unwinding, and negligible dissipative losses.

The wheel’s moment of inertia about its axle is \[ I=\frac12MR^2=7.2\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{kg\,m^2}. \] The thickness \(d\) does not enter this moment of inertia. It is convenient to define \[ J=I+Mr^2=M\left(\frac{R^2}{2}+r^2\right). \] For the given dimensions, \[ \frac{I}{Mr^2}=\frac{R^2}{2r^2}=200, \qquad \frac{J}{Mr^2}=201. \]

2.1

When an angle \(d\theta\) unwinds, the centre descends by \(ds=r\,d\theta\). Therefore \[ v=r\omega. \]

Conservation of mechanical energy after a descent \(s\) gives \[ Mgs=\frac12Mv^2+\frac12I\omega^2 =\frac12(I+Mr^2)\omega^2. \] Consequently, \[ \boxed{\omega(s)= \sqrt{\frac{2Mgs}{I+Mr^2}} =\sqrt{\frac{4gs}{R^2+2r^2}}.} \]

Numerically, \[ \omega(s)= (104.1\ \mathrm{rad\,s^{-1}}) \sqrt{\frac{s}{1\ \mathrm m}}. \]

2.2

The translational kinetic energy is \[ E_r=\frac12Mv^2 =\frac12Mr^2\omega^2 =\frac{Mr^2}{J}Mgs =\frac{Mgs}{201}. \] At \(s=0.50\ \mathrm m\), \[ Mgs=0.40(9.81)(0.50)=1.962\ \mathrm J, \] so \[ \boxed{E_r=0.009761\ \mathrm J\simeq9.8\ \mathrm{mJ}.} \]

The rotational energy is \[ E_{\rm rot}=\frac12I\omega^2, \] and hence \[ \boxed{\frac{E_r}{E_{\rm rot}} =\frac{Mr^2}{I} =\frac1{200}.} \] Its numerical value is \[ E_{\rm rot}=1.95224\ \mathrm J. \]

The centre is now \(h-s=0.50\ \mathrm m\) above the floor. Taking the floor as the zero of gravitational potential energy, \[ U=Mg(h-s)=1.962\ \mathrm J. \] Thus the three energies present are in the ratio \[ \boxed{E_r:E_{\rm rot}:U=1:200:201.} \]

The initial energy was \(Mgh=3.924\ \mathrm J\), and the energy check is \[ 0.009761+1.952239+1.962=3.924\ \mathrm J. \] The translational energy is \(1/201\) of the gravitational energy released. If “energy in any other form” means the combined remaining rotational and gravitational energies, the corresponding ratio is \[ \frac{E_r}{E_{\rm rot}+U}=\frac1{401}. \]

2.3

Let \(T\) denote the tension in each string and take downward acceleration \(a\) as positive. Newton’s second law gives \[ Mg-2T=Ma. \] The two tensions produce the torque \[ 2Tr=I\alpha, \] while the unwinding condition gives \(a=r\alpha\). Therefore \[ 2T=\frac{I}{r^2}a, \] and \[ a=\frac{Mg}{M+I/r^2} =\frac{g}{201} =0.0488\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}. \]

It follows that \[ \boxed{T=\frac{M(g-a)}2 =\frac{Mg}{2}\frac{200}{201} =1.95224\ \mathrm N.} \]

This tension is constant during the straight descent. The much larger force during reversal must be considered separately.

2.4

We interpret the curved trajectory in Fig. 19.6 as a short reversal during which the contact line through \(A\) is fixed and the centre \(S\) describes a semicircle of radius \(r\) about it. This imposed geometry is the reversal idealization used here.

Let \(\ell\) be the straight descent before the reversal. At entry, \[ \omega_0^2=\frac{2Mg\ell}{J}. \]

Choose the entry position of \(S\) as the origin, with \(x\) to the right and \(y\) upward. Then \(A=(r,0)\). Define \(\Phi\) to increase from \(0\) to \(\pi\) as the centre passes beneath \(A\). The coordinates are \[ \boxed{x=r(1-\cos\Phi),\qquad y=-r\sin\Phi.} \] They satisfy \[ (x-r)^2+y^2=r^2,\qquad y\leq0. \]

Since this is rotation about \(A\), \[ \dot\Phi=\omega',\qquad v=r\omega'. \] The moment of inertia about the contact line is \(J=I+Mr^2\). The centre has descended an additional distance \(r\sin\Phi\), so conservation of energy gives \[ \frac12J\omega'^2 =\frac12J\omega_0^2+Mgr\sin\Phi. \] Therefore \[ \boxed{\omega'(\Phi) =\sqrt{\omega_0^2+\frac{2Mgr}{J}\sin\Phi} =\sqrt{\frac{4g(\ell+r\sin\Phi)}{R^2+2r^2}}.} \]

Differentiating the coordinates, \[ \boxed{v_x=r\omega'\sin\Phi,\qquad v_y=-r\omega'\cos\Phi.} \] Thus \[ \boxed{v(\Phi)=r\omega'(\Phi) =v_0\sqrt{1+\frac r\ell\sin\Phi}}, \qquad v_0=r\omega_0. \]

The angular acceleration, useful for the force calculation, is \[ \boxed{\ddot\Phi=\frac{Mgr}{J}\cos\Phi.} \]

The requested sketches can be specified as follows:

\(\Phi\) \(x\) \(y\) \(v_x\) \(v_y\) Speed
\(0\) \(0\) \(0\) \(0\) \(-v_0\) \(v_0\)
\(\pi/2\) \(r\) \(-r\) \(v_{\max}\) \(0\) \(v_{\max}\)
\(\pi\) \(2r\) \(0\) \(0\) \(+v_0\) \(v_0\)

Here \[ v_{\max}=v_0\sqrt{1+\frac r\ell}, \qquad \omega'_{\max}=\omega_0\sqrt{1+\frac r\ell}. \]

The spatial path consists of a vertical descent, a lower semicircle of radius \(r=3.0\ \mathrm{mm}\), and a vertical ascent displaced horizontally by \(2r=6.0\ \mathrm{mm}\). As functions of \(\Phi\), \(x\) increases smoothly from \(0\) to \(2r\), while \(y\) is a negative half-sine with minimum \(-r\). Both \(v\) and \(\omega'\) form symmetric arches, with equal endpoint values and their maxima at \(\pi/2\).

At the bottom, the vertical velocity is zero, but the speed is maximal: in this semicircular model, the centre is then moving horizontally.

2.5

At the midpoint of the reversal, the centre lies directly below \(A\). Its tangential acceleration vanishes because \(\cos\Phi=0\), and its acceleration is vertically upward: \[ a_{\rm bottom}=\frac{v_{\max}^2}{r} =r\omega_{\max}'^{\,2}. \] The vertical force equation is therefore \[ 2T_{\rm peak}-Mg=Mr\omega_{\max}'^{\,2}. \] Using the result of 2.4, \[ \omega_{\max}'^{\,2} =\frac{2Mg(\ell+r)}{J}, \] we obtain \[ \boxed{T_{\rm peak} =\frac{Mg}{2} +\frac{M^2gr(\ell+r)}{J}.} \]

The bottom is indeed the point of maximum constraint load in the fixed-\(A\) model. To check this, put \[ \epsilon=\frac{Mr^2}{J},\qquad b=\frac{r\omega_0^2}{g},\qquad u=\sin\Phi. \] Resolving the total contact reaction \(F\) into radial and tangential components gives \[ \frac{F^2}{M^2g^2} =b^2+(1-\epsilon)^2 +2b(1+2\epsilon)u +3\epsilon(2+\epsilon)u^2. \] All coefficients of \(u\) and \(u^2\) are nonnegative, so the maximum occurs at \(u=1\), where the reaction is vertical and shared equally by the strings.

Setting the peak tension in each string equal to \(T_m\), \[ 2T_m=Mg+\frac{2M^2gr(\ell_{\max}+r)}{J}. \] Hence \[ \boxed{\ell_{\max} =\frac{J(2T_m-Mg)}{2M^2gr}-r =\frac{R^2+2r^2}{4gr} \left(\frac{2T_m}{M}-g\right)-r.} \]

Numerically, \[ \ell_{\max} =\frac{0.060^2+2(0.0030)^2}{4(9.81)(0.0030)} \left(\frac{20}{0.40}-9.81\right)-0.0030 =1.2322\ \mathrm m. \] Thus the string-strength limit is approximately \[ \boxed{\ell_{\max}\simeq1.2\ \mathrm m.} \]

There is also a geometric restriction from the floor. During the reversal, the minimum centre height is \(h-\ell-r\). To keep the wheel above the floor, \[ h-\ell-r\geq R, \] so \[ \boxed{\ell\leq h-R-r=0.937\ \mathrm m\simeq0.94\ \mathrm m.} \] Substituting this length into the peak-tension formula gives \[ T_{\rm peak}=8.08\ \mathrm N<10\ \mathrm N. \] Consequently, the floor limits the available unwinding before the string-strength limit is reached.

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.