WoPhO 2011 Q11

Problem Creator: Máté Vigh
Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem

Theoretical 1: Motion of a Rolling Rod
In this problem, the motion of a uniform rod (stick) with length L, ended with caster-wheels at
both ends, will be investigated on a flat surface. The casters at each end of the rod can spin freely
and independently (see Figure 1) and have a negligible mass compared
L to the rod. The friction
between the rod and the caster-wheels is negligible. The diameter of the caster-wheels are a bit
larger than the diameter of the rod, but both diameters are much smaller than the length of the
rod. The gravitational acceleration is g.
Figure 1: Sketch of the rod with the caster-wheels.
v1 v2
1. The rod is placed on a horizontal flat surface and pushed such that each end of the rod get
different horizontal initial velocity (v1 and v2 , pointing in the same direction) perpendicular to
the axis of the rod. The castersv0roll without slipping on the surface. ω0
v1 v2 L
(a) Calculate the initial velocity v0 of the center of the rod and the initial angular velocity ω0
of the rod using v1 , v2 and L! (0.8 points)
µ
(b) Describe the motion of the center of mass of the rod! Determine the parameter(s) of its
orbit! (0.8 points)
(c) What should be the minimum value of the coefficient of static friction µ for the casters to
not slip on the surface? (0.6 points)
α
In the following sections the case of the inclined surface will be considered. The angle between
the inclined
α surface and the horizontal plane is α.
v
2. If α is infinitesimally small, the motion of the rod slightly changes: the motion of the center
of mass is approximately the same as in the previous section but a constant drift velocity vdrift
added to the solution. Use a coordinate systemv as in Figure 2. α
1v 2 v
(a) Calculate the magnitude and the direction of vdrift as a function of the small α, the initial
g
velocities of the two ends of the rod (v1 and v2 , pointing in the same direction) and the
gravitational acceleration g! (1.9 points)
(b) Sketch the orbit of the center of mass of the rod! (0.5 points)
α
y
3. If α is finite, the details of the motion of the rod changes. Place the rod on the inclined plane
ω
along the steepest line of the surface (so the rod is parallel with the inclined
0 edges of the plane).
Consider that the initial velocity v0 ofv0the center of mass of the rod is perpendicular to the
axis of the rod and the initial angular velocity ω0 is perpendicular to the v0 surface
x as shown in
Figure 2. ω0 α
(a) Calculate the time evolution of the velocity v(t) = (vx (t), vy (t)) of the center of mass of
the rod in the Cartesian coordinate systemv(t)
shown
= in Figure 2. (0.8 points)
(vx (t), vy (t))
Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem: Motion of a Rolling Rod Page 1 of 2

v
Problem Creator:
v Máté Vigh α
v1 v2
Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem
Theoretical 1: Motion of a Rolling Rod
y
ω0
v0
v0 x
v(t) =
Figure 2: The initial conditions of the rod in section 3.
(b) Depending on the magnitude of the v0 and ω0 , it can occur, that the center of the rod
stops for a moment during its motion. Express the condition(s) for such a behavior using
the parameters v0 , ω0 , g, α and L! (0.8 points)
v0 ω0
(c) Determine the maximum displacement of the center of the rod in the direction of the
v0 ω0 g
steepest line (y-direction) as function of v0 and ω0 ! (1.2 points)
4. Investigate another situation where the rod is placed horizontally on the inclined surface. Con-
sider that the initial angular velocity ω0 of the rod is perpendicular to the surface but the initial
v0 ω0 velocity of the center of the rod is zero (see Figure 3).
ω0
x
Figure 3: The initial conditions of the rod in section 4.
(a) Describe the motion of the center of mass of the rod! Determine the parameter(s) of its
orbit! (1.6 points)
(b) What should be the minimum value of the coefficient of static friction µ in this case for
the casters to not slip on the surface? (1.0 points)
Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem: Motion of a Rolling Rod Page 2 of 2

WoPhO 2011 Q11

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WoPhO 2011 Q11

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

WoPhO 2011 Q11

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Problem Creator: Máté Vigh

Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem

Figure 1: Sketch of the rod with the caster-wheels.

Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem: Motion of a Rolling Rod Page 1 of 2

Figure 3: The initial conditions of the rod in section 4.

Eka Tjipta Foundation Problem: Motion of a Rolling Rod Page 2 of 2

You might also like