You are on page 1of 6

Name: Vo Thanh Minh Tue [Class: M08502]

Hoang Kim Dinh [Class: M08503]


Students of NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
Address: 40 Clementi Avenue 1, NUS High School Residence, 129959

In this paper we answer the question of finding the coefficient of friction k. We also extend the problem
into additional interesting features such as finding the equations of motion at steady-state.

November challenge

First, we investigate the helix motion. The regularity of the helix suggests that it can be casted in simple
parametric equations. Thus, parametric form of the helix is:
x (t ) = r cos( t ) x ' (t ) = −r sin( t )
y (t ) = r sin( t ) y ' (t ) = r cos( t )
d d
z (t ) = t z ' (t ) =
2π 2π
Now, we want to length of one complete turn. To find the length of the turn, we integrate the parametric
equations:
2 2
2π 2π d d
S=∫ x '2 + y '2 + z '2 dt = ∫ r2 + dt = 2π r 2 + = 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
0 0 4π 2 4π 2

This can be visualized as when then bead moves downward a distance d, it travels a horizontal distance of
2πr and hence by Pythagoras theorem, the total distance travel S is 4π 2 r 2 + d 2

After we have found the length, we can find the angle that the bead is sliding down. According to the
diagram:
d 2πr d
sin( α) = cos( α ) = tan( α) =
S S 2πr

Now we are finding the normal force acting on the bead.


The normal force acting on the bead can be resolved into two perpendicular components.
Resolving horizontally and perpendicular to the “circular” plane of the helical path, the centripetal force
is provided by the normal force, N1, on the horizontal section of the wire:
(v cos( α )) 2
N1 = m
r
Resolving vertically along the helical path, the normal force, N2, perpendicular to the slope and acting on
the vertical section of wire:
N 2 = mg cos( α )
Since two components of the force are perpendicular to each other, the total force is found as:
2
 v 2 cos 2 (α ) 
 + [ g cos( α )]
2
Nt = N12 + N 22 = m 
 r 

v 4 cos 2 (α )
= m cos(α ) + g2
r2
v4
= m cos(α ) cos 2 (α ) + g 2
r2
v4
= m cos(α ) 2
cos 2 (α ) + g 2
r

Method 1: Force analysis [Vo Thanh Minh Tue]


Since the bead is sliding at a constant speed, the net force along the line of motion is zero.
Resolving along the wire, the frictional force, Ffric, is equal and opposite to the component of the weight
along the slope.
F fric = kN t = mg sin α ------ Equation (1)
Sub in the expression of Nt
v4
km cos(α ) 2
cos 2 (α ) + g 2 = mg sin(α )
r
Hence the expression for the coefficient of friction is:
g tan(α )
k=
v4
cos 2 (α ) + g 2
r2
gd gd
k= =
v4  4π 2 r 2   4π 2 
2πr  d 2 + 4π 2 r 2  + g
2
2πr v 4  2 2 2
+ g2
r2    d + 4π r 

Method 2: Energy approach [Hoang Kim Dinh]


Alternatively, we may consider conservation of energy, that is, the potential energy of the bead is
converted into the thermal energy due to the presence of friction.
mgd = kNS=FfricS
which implies F fric = kN t =mg (d / S ) = mg sin α , which gives the same expression as equation 1
above. This shows that a physical problem can be analyzed by using methods which still yield the same
result. It is interesting to note that the bead is only sliding but not rolling down the wire. Rolling motion is
much more complicated as we need to take into account the dimension of the bead.
Additional notes on the question
1. Find the equations of motion of the bead at constant speed.
It is natural to ask about the equations of motion of the ball. Since the ball is moving in a helix at
a constant rate, the equations of motion of the ball are in the form:
x (t ) = r cos( ωt )
y (t ) = −r sin( ωt )
z (t ) = bt
Where b and ω are unknown coefficients
Since the bead travels a length of S in one turn, hence the period is:
S 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
T = =
v v
The angular frequency is:
ωT = 2π
2π 2πv
ω= =
T 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
Since the bead travels down a distance d during a period T, to find the coefficient b:
bT = d
d vd
b= =
T 4π r 2 + d 2
2

Therefore the equations of motion are:


2πv
x(t ) = r cos( t)
4π 2 r 2 + d 2
2πv
y (t ) = −r sin( t)
4π 2 r 2 + d 2
vd
z (t ) = t
4π r + d 2
2 2

2. Find the equation of motion of the bead if there is no friction i.e the bead is sliding down due to
gravity
Suppose that the bead has travelled a distance L and dropped a height h from its initial position at
rest.
Intuitively, in the presence of a constant force, the distance travel is proportional to t2 or L=at2
Alternatively, we can derive it using energy approach.
We have:
h d d
= constant = =
L S 4π r 2 + d 2
2

Ld
h=
4π r 2 + d 2
2

Due to conservation of energy:


1
mgh = mv 2
2
2 gLd
v = 2 gh =
4π 2 r 2 + d 2
dL 2 gLd
v= =
dt 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
It is noted that v is the rate of change of distance travelled.
dL 2 gLd
=
dt 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
This differential equation can be solved by separating variables:
dL 2 gd
= dt
L 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
L t
dL 2 gd

0
=∫
L o 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
dt

2 gd
2 L= t
4π 2 r 2 + d 2
gd
L= t
2 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
gd
L= t2
2 4π 2 r 2 + d 2
Differentiating the distance travelled to get the velocity:
gd
v= t
4π r + d 2
2 2

Hence the vertical distance is calculated as:


Ld gd 2
h= = t 2 = z (t )
4π 2 r 2 + d 2 2( 4π 2 r 2 + d 2 )
Now, for the circular motion in the plane, we need to find the phase change.
Since the phase difference is proportional to the distance travelled:
φ L
=
2π S
Hence:
gd
t2
φ L 2 4π 2 r 2 + d 2 gd
= = = t2
2π S 4π r + d
2 2 2 2 4π 2
r 2
+ d 2
( )
gd
φ =π t2
( 4π r + d
22 2
)
The equations of motion on the circular plane are:
 gd 
x(t ) = r cos(φ ) = r cos π t 2 
(
 4π r + d
2 2 2
) 
 gd 
y (t ) = −r sin(φ ) = −r sin π t 2 
(
 4π r + d
2 2 2
) 
Therefore, the equations of motion of the bead are:
gd 2
z (t ) = t2
2( 4π 2 r 2 + d 2 )
 gd 
x(t ) = r cos  π t 2 
 ( 4π r + d ) 
2 2 2

 gd 
y (t ) = −r sin  π t 2 
 ( 4π r + d ) 
2 2 2

You might also like