2002 Paper 3 Q10

Year: 2002
Paper: 3
Question Number: 10

Course: UFM Mechanics
Section: Circular Motion 2

Difficulty: 1700.0 Banger: 1516.0

Problem

A light hollow cylinder of radius \(a\) can rotate freely about its axis of symmetry, which is fixed and horizontal. A particle of mass \(m\) is fixed to the cylinder, and a second particle, also of mass \(m\), moves on the rough inside surface of the cylinder. Initially, the cylinder is at rest, with the fixed particle on the same horizontal level as its axis and the second particle at rest vertically below this axis. The system is then released. Show that, if \(\theta\) is the angle through which the cylinder has rotated, then \[ \ddot{\theta} = {g \over 2a} \l \cos \theta - \sin \theta \r \,, \] provided that the second particle does not slip. Given that the coefficient of friction is \( (3 + \sqrt{3})/6\), show that the second particle starts to slip when the cylinder has rotated through \(60^\circ\).

No solution available for this problem.

Rating Information

Difficulty Rating: 1700.0

Difficulty Comparisons: 0

Banger Rating: 1516.0

Banger Comparisons: 1

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Problem source
A light hollow cylinder of radius $a$ can rotate freely 
about its axis of symmetry, 
which is fixed and horizontal. 
A particle of mass $m$ is fixed to the cylinder, 
and a second particle, also of mass $m$, moves 
on the rough inside surface of the cylinder. 
Initially, the cylinder is at rest, 
with the fixed particle on the same horizontal level as its axis
and the second particle at rest vertically below this axis. 
The system is then released. 
Show that, if $\theta$ is the angle through which the cylinder has rotated, then
\[
\ddot{\theta} = {g \over 2a} \l \cos \theta - \sin \theta \r \,,
\]
provided that the second particle does not slip.
Given that the coefficient of friction is 
$ (3 + \sqrt{3})/6$, show that  the second particle 
starts to slip when the cylinder has rotated through $60^\circ$.