Thread: Physics Quiz
View Single Post
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 19-11-2011, 00:12
Ether's Avatar
Ether Ether is offline
systems engineer (retired)
no team
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Rookie Year: 1969
Location: US
Posts: 7,995
Ether has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Physics Quiz

Quote:
Originally Posted by theprgramerdude View Post
When you said a torque tau is applied to the wheel, did you really mean the rod?
No. Torque is applied to the wheel by the motor on the wheel. This torque on the wheel then tries to drive the wheel "forward", but it can't go straight "forward" because it is constrained by the rod to travel in a circle. But it can't travel along that circle until sufficient torque is applied to break the static friction with the floor.


Quote:
If you meant the wheel, then wouldn't that make the angle theta irrelevant to solving the problem?
No. The angle of the wheel affects how much friction force the floor generates in response to the torque on the wheel.