How Does Torque Affect Pulley Movement?

[Anish Mohan]

Hi,

I have a pully with two sticks attached to it as shown in figure. Each stick has a mass in it...which is free to move...and equal iin weight. Assume each mass is equally distant from the pully...what would be the torque on the pully ?..And in which direction the pully move ?

 

[Anish Mohan]

Somebody please give me a reply

 

[Lich King]

Somebody please give me a reply

Assume mass of string (how can stick be used in a single fixed pulley) to be nil because if there will be the string then it will make the calculation very complicated. Now if you apply suppose F Newtons of force. The the clockwise torque will be -(F x perpendicular distance from centre of pulley to line of action).

We assume clockwise to be negative.

The the anticlockwise torque will be F x perpendicular distance from centre of pulley to line of action.

Realize that in this case Tension of string = Force you are exerting on string.

 

[Anish Mohan]

Hi Lich King - Thanks for your reply.
There are some assumptions I forgot to mention in my question - my appologies.

The pulley(disk) is free to rotate (as it is placed on a stick, which pass through it's axis).

And it has two sticks attached to it ...with two free flowing mass(both have same mass)...If this disk/pulley is in this situation(as shown in figure)...which side it will rotate ?

 

[PJC01]

Torque on a pulley is a measure of the rotational force applied to it. In this scenario, the torque on the pulley would depend on the masses attached to the sticks and their distance from the pulley. The torque can be calculated by multiplying the force applied (in this case, the weight of the masses) by the distance from the pivot point (the pulley). Since the masses are equally distant from the pulley and have equal weight, the torque on the pulley would be the same on both sides.

In terms of direction, the pulley would move in the direction of the greater torque. If the masses are equal and the distances are equal, the pulley would not move as the torques would cancel each other out. However, if one mass is slightly heavier or further from the pulley, the torque would be greater on that side and the pulley would rotate in that direction. This is because the greater torque creates a greater rotational force, causing the pulley to move in that direction.

It is important to note that torque is dependent on both the force and the distance from the pivot point. So, if the masses were moved closer or further from the pulley, the torque would also change accordingly. Additionally, the direction of the pulley's rotation can be reversed by changing the position of the masses or by applying a greater force on one side.