Rotation Angle vs. Reaction Force

Two identical rods, each with mass 1 kg 1 \, \text{kg} and length 1 m 1 \, \text{m} , are joined together to form something like a single-bladed fan.

The first rod stands perfectly upright, with one end fixed to the ground. Its other end serves as a pivot point for the second rod, which rotates counter-clockwise at a constant angular speed of π rad / s \SI[per-mode=symbol]{\pi}{\radian\per\second} thanks to a massless servomotor. θ \theta is the instantaneous angle between the rotating rod and the horizontal, and gravity is 10 m/s 2 10\text{ m/s}^2 in the downward vertical direction.

At what angle θ \theta (in degrees between 0 and 90) is the magnitude of the net reaction force at the ground equal to the combined weight of the two rods, to 3 decimal places?

Note: There is also a reaction moment at the ground support, but we are only interested in the net reaction force.


The answer is 7.087.

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1 solution

Aryaman Maithani
Jun 2, 2018

The above shows the external forces acting on the system (system consists of the two rods).

Since the direction of the net reaction force is not known, I've assumed it in terms of its x and y components, denoted by F x F_x and F y F_y respectively.

(Note that the reaction force at the hinge point is an internal force.)

The above shows the net acceleration of the system. (Since ω \omega is constant, α \alpha is zero.)

Writing Newton's Law of Motion for the system:

F e x t = m i a i \vec{F_{ext}} = \sum m_i\vec{a_i}

2 m g ( j ^ ) + F y ( j ^ ) + F x ( i ^ ) = m l ω 2 2 ( cos ( θ ) i ^ sin ( θ ) j ^ ) \implies 2mg(-\hat{j}) + F_y(\hat{j}) + F_x(-\hat{i}) = \frac{ml\omega^2}{2} (-\cos(\theta)\hat{i} - \sin(\theta)\hat{j})

Equating the components:

F x = m l ω 2 2 cos ( θ ) F_x = \frac{ml\omega^2}{2} \cos(\theta)

F y = 2 m g m l ω 2 2 sin ( θ ) F_y = 2mg -\frac{ml\omega^2}{2}\sin(\theta)

Magnitude of net reaction force: F x 2 + F y 2 \sqrt{F_x^2 + F_y^2}

F x 2 + F y 2 = 2 m g \therefore \sqrt{F_x^2 + F_y^2} = 2mg

( m l ω 2 2 cos ( θ ) ) 2 + ( 2 m g m l ω 2 2 sin ( θ ) ) 2 = 4 m 2 g 2 \implies (\frac{ml\omega^2}{2} \cos(\theta))^2 + (2mg -\frac{ml\omega^2}{2}\sin(\theta))^2 = 4m^2g^2

m 2 l 2 ω 4 4 cos 2 ( θ ) + 4 m 2 g 2 2 m 2 g l ω 2 sin ( θ ) + m 2 l 2 ω 4 4 sin 2 ( θ ) = 4 m 2 g 2 \implies \frac{m^2l^2\omega^4}{4} \cos^2(\theta) + 4m^2g^2 - 2m^2gl\omega^2\sin(\theta) +\frac{m^2l^2\omega^4}{4}\sin^2(\theta) = 4m^2g^2

m 2 l 2 ω 4 4 = 2 m 2 g l ω 2 sin ( θ ) \implies \frac{m^2l^2\omega^4}{4} = 2m^2gl\omega^2\sin(\theta)

sin ( θ ) = l ω 2 8 g \implies \sin(\theta) = \frac{l\omega^2}{8g}

θ = arcsin ( π 2 80 ) \therefore \theta = \boxed{\arcsin\bigg(\dfrac{\pi^2}{80}\bigg)}

where has the condition for zero angular acceleration been put in the solution ?

Kartikeya Chowdhry - 2 years, 6 months ago

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After the second diagram, I have written the following in brackets: (Since ω \omega is constant, α \alpha is zero.)

It has been used when I have not written any acceleration perpendicular to a = l 2 ω 2 a=\frac{l}{2}\omega^2 .

Aryaman Maithani - 2 years, 6 months ago

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