Physics Homework: A bead on wire

In summary: The speed at D may be greater or less than the speed at F, depending on the relative magnitudes of acceleration due to gravity and friction. But for this problem, you don't need to know which it is. All you need to know is whether the KE at F is greater than, less than or equal to the KE at D. So, for the KE at F, what are the two variables that you need to know?You are correct in thinking that mass has no effect on the final speed if all other things are equal. But in this problem, all other things are not equal. In fact, the mass isn't the same.The mass at D is 2 kg. The mass at F is 1 kg
  • #1
Elliott98
3
0

Homework Statement


A bead slides on a wire, which is in a vertical plane, as shown in the diagram. Gravity acts in the -y direction. The bead starts at A, moving to the right with an initial velocity v. The wire is frictionless between A and D and between F and G, but there is friction between D and F. (For each statement select True, False, Greater than, Less than, Equal to, or Not enough information to tell.http:////d2vlcm61l7u1fs.cloudfront.net/media%2F62f%2F62f71b78-00b4-43a8-a92b-de3a1b48521b%2Fphp3BwzEE.png
http:////d2vlcm61l7u1fs.cloudfront.net/media%2F87b%2F87b2fab7-a0ac-403b-89aa-426164f8224c%2Fphp6TF9ue.png

Homework Equations


KE= (1/2)mv^2
PE = mgh

The Attempt at a Solution



a) The bead is sliding down with gravity with no friction, so the speed will increase. Answer = True?

b) The velocity of the bead at D is higher than at F because before D, there is no friction, but after D to F, Friction is present. Because the velocity is smaller at F than D, the KE is smaller at F than at D. Answer = Greater than?

c) There is no friction present and its a horizontal surface so speed remains constant form D to E. Answer = Equal?

d) Conservation of energy. Answer = Equal

I'm not sure if these are correct. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks![/B]
 

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  • #2
Hi Elliott98 and welcome to PF.

We cannot see the statements that are supposed to be True or False. The pictures did not load. Try reloading them or perhaps you can enter them by hand.
 
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  • #3
Elliott98 said:
The velocity of the bead at D is higher than at F because before D, there is no friction, but after D to F, Friction is present.
What else might affect the velocity over that segment? Would the speed at F be the same as at D if there were no friction in between?
 
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  • #4
kuruman said:
Hi Elliott98 and welcome to PF.

We cannot see the statements that are supposed to be True or False. The pictures did not load. Try reloading them or perhaps you can enter them by hand.
I can't seem to be able to upload them so here they are:

a) Between A and B, the speed increases.
b) The bead's kinetic energy at D is ... it's kinetic energy at F.
c) The speeds at D and E are equal.
d) The total energy of the bead at B is ... the total energy at D.
 
  • #5
a) Correct.
b) Think again in view of @haruspex's post#3.
c) Correct.
d) Correct.
 
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  • #6
Elliott98 said:
I can't seem to be able to upload them so here they are:

a) Between A and B, the speed increases.
b) The bead's kinetic energy at D is ... it's kinetic energy at F.
c) The speeds at D and E are equal.
d) The total energy of the bead at B is ... the total energy at D.
Actually, the preferred way to post is with text rather than images of textual material.

Also, it's helpful to post full size images, so here is the one image of yours that survived - now in full size.
screen-shot-2016-10-16-at-2-44-26-pm-png.107616.png

and your answers ...
Elliott98 said:
a) The bead is sliding down with gravity with no friction, so the speed will increase. Answer = True?

b) The velocity of the bead at D is higher than at F because before D, there is no friction, but after D to F, Friction is present. Because the velocity is smaller at F than D, the KE is smaller at F than at D. Answer = Greater than?

c) There is no friction present and its a horizontal surface so speed remains constant form D to E. Answer = Equal?

d) Conservation of energy. Answer = Equal
 
  • #7
kuruman said:
a) Correct.
b) Think again in view of @haruspex's post#3.
c) Correct.
d) Correct.
For (c): There is friction in that segment.
 
  • #8
SammyS said:
For (c): There is friction in that segment.

Oops, I made a mistake. Thanks for pointing it out.

So I have a) True
b) Sorry, I'm a bit confused. The formula for kinetic energy is = 1/2 mv^2. So that mass at D is the same as at F so that doesn't change. For velocity, it will decrease because of friction? Or the velocity will increase because the beed is going down the slope, but friction will work against it so it will remain the same?
c) False, (because there is friction, the bead will slow down, so the speeds aren't equal)
d) Equal to.

Thanks for all the help!
 
  • #9
Elliott98 said:
b) Sorry, I'm a bit confused. The formula for kinetic energy is = 1/2 mv^2. So that mass at D is the same as at F so that doesn't change. For velocity, it will decrease because of friction? Or the velocity will increase because the beed is going down the slope, but friction will work against it so it will remain the same?
You seem to be listing two possibilities there. Can you think of a third? (or a fourth).
 

Related to Physics Homework: A bead on wire

1. What is the purpose of a bead on wire in physics?

The bead on wire is a common physics experiment that is used to demonstrate concepts such as forces, friction, and motion. It consists of a small bead that can slide along a thin, straight wire. By varying the angle and tension of the wire, different forces can be applied to the bead and its motion can be observed and analyzed.

2. How does the position of the bead on the wire affect the forces acting on it?

The position of the bead on the wire can greatly affect the forces acting on it. When the bead is at the top of the wire, it experiences a downward force due to gravity. As it moves down the wire, the angle of the wire changes and the force of tension in the wire also changes. At the bottom of the wire, the force of tension is at its maximum and is directed horizontally, causing the bead to accelerate in that direction.

3. What is the relationship between the angle of the wire and the force of tension?

The force of tension in the wire is directly proportional to the angle of the wire. This means that as the angle of the wire increases, so does the force of tension. This relationship can be described by the equation T = mgcosθ, where T is the force of tension, m is the mass of the bead, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and θ is the angle of the wire.

4. How does friction play a role in the bead on wire experiment?

Friction is an important factor in the bead on wire experiment. As the bead slides along the wire, it experiences frictional forces that act in the opposite direction of its motion. These forces can affect the speed and acceleration of the bead and must be taken into account when analyzing the experiment.

5. What are some real-life applications of the bead on wire experiment?

The bead on wire experiment is a simplified model of many real-life scenarios. Some examples include a roller coaster moving along its tracks, a car driving along a curved road, and a pendulum swinging back and forth. By studying the forces and motion of the bead on wire, we can better understand and analyze these more complex systems.

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