Modelling and Problem solving

Investigation 2 Motion of bodies in one and two dimensions in free fall

Abstract:

Picture of dan-koko free faller

Angle between the vertical and the line of

radius OP.
h Initial height of release.
W Work done due to Normal force
Wf work due to frictional force

ui

Initial velocity from point of release

angle between the Normal force and

displacement at any general point.

Figure 1 picture of free faller
Model 1. Free fall due to gravity
ASSUMPTIONS:
-Treat the free-faller as a particle of mass m.
- The effects of air resistance, drag or any other
frictional forces due to motion through a viscous
medium are ignored.

Mathematical Model
Since we are considering the particle to be
sliding down a frictionless surface there is no
work done by any frictional forces. Furthermore
the work done due to the normal force = 0 since the normal force is perpendicular to the
direction of motion (the
[1.10]
displacement) at all points.
i.e.

- There is no air resistance/drag acting on the

particle.
- ignore any horizontal motion due to walking
off the top platform
-Assume all motion is entirely vertical motion.

DIAGRAM FOR free fall under gravity MODEL:

Figure 2 Diagram of loop- the
loop for rolling motion.
Variables/ Values

90

W =Ns cos

W =Ns cos 90

, when

=0

Wf = 0 since F =0

Using this knowledge we can obtain a

conservation of energy equation purely in terms
of mechanical energy (PE and KE).

1
Ei=mgh+ mu i2
2
1
2
Ef = mu
2

N Normal reaction force to the curved surface

at a specific instant in time.

By conservation of Energy : Ei= Ef

m- Mass of particle
g Acceleration due to gravity

vi

Setting

ui=0

Velocity of particle at the bottom of the

loop i.e. before it performs loop the loop.

since it starts sliding from rest.

Velocity of particle at any general point on

circular track.
R Radius of circle

Dominic Wynes-Devlin

1
2
mu =mgh
2
u2=2 gh

For the Energy at the bottom of the loop we have

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[1.11]

1
2
E2 i= m v i
2

v2
Nmgcos =m
R

Since there is no loss of friction from when the

ball goes down the slope to when it enters the
bottom of the loop.

E2 i=E f

1
1
mu2 = mv i2
2
2

EVALUATE WHEN N =0
Setting N=0 we obtain:

For this equation to be valid

u =v i

negative i.e.

v i= 2 gh

Expressing the Total Energy for a general

point:

1cos

E2 f =mgR

[1.14]

angle

< 90, we can find the critical

velocity
for which the particle will
maintain contact
and oscillate
about the lower part of the track.
Condition N>0 at theta = 90

v critical , lower= 2 gR
If

F=ma

[1.18]

v i < 2 gR

Then the particle oscillate about lower part of

the track.

The critical speed necessary for a complete loop

is evaluated at the top of the loop at theta=
180. When N =0, the particle loses contact with
the track.

v2
)
R

v2
R

If

F=Nmg cos

Dominic Wynes-Devlin

[1.17]

Since the particle will not fall off for any

The net force F is:

23 cos

N ( )=mg

1cos

2
v =2 gR

F=m

, this is true when

Expressing the Normal force as a function of

the angle theta, for a fixed initial velocity v i.

1
m v i2 =mgR
2

(since a=

must be

This Implies that for angles less than 90 the

marble will not fall off i.e. N>0

[1.13]

Applying Newtons 2nd law in the radial direction

at the general point; towards the centre of the
loop:

cos

This shows that it is only possible for the marble

to fall off when the angle is between 90 and
180.

By conservation of Energy : E2 i=E 2 f

cos < 0

90 < <180

[1.12]

The reference point for the zero potential is at

the bottom of the loop.

1cos

[1.16]

v2
m =mg cos
R

v critical , top =5 gR
v i > 5 gR

[1.19]

, the ball will maintain contact

with the track and not fall off. that is N > 0.

[1.15]

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 v i < 5 gR

2 gR

For:

, the particle will

fall off
Since we are concerned with the particle
completing the loop.

v i > 5 gR
However this still does not confirm that the
particle does not fall off before it reaches the
point.

[1.20]

Evaluating when

v i= 5 gR

:
Model 2 - Marble modelled as sphere with rolling
motion

1+ cos
N=3 mg

ASSUMPTIONS:
-Treat the marble as a uniform sphere with
uniform density.
-There is no air
resistance/drag acting on the car.
-The loop is perfectly circular.
-There is no change in curvature i.e. kink from
when the car reaches the bottom of the slope to
it entering the loop.
-There is no motion
relative between the surface of the ground and
the rollercoaster loop/ track.

For N > 0

We get:

1+cos

3 mg
cos >1

, valid for 0 < < 180

The radius of the circular track is much greater

than then radius of the sphere such that R>>r.

Given the particle has this critical velocity, this

shows that the normal will be non-negative;
hence it will not fall off before reaching the top.
Minimum initial height h needed for the particle
to complete a loop:
Equating equations 1.20 and 1.12, the minimum
height necessary for a complete circular loop is
obtained.

[1.21]

5 R=2 h

h=2.5 R

2 gh

5 gR

Figure 3 Diagram of loopthe loop for rolling motion.

This shows that the height h must be 2.5 times

the radius of the circular loop in order to
complete the loop the loop.
Validation of model 1:
The value of the radius was measured to
12.5cm. Using this value the predicted height-h
for which the particle will completely go around
the circular loop is 31.25 cm.
The actual value
of the height was measured to be 43.00 cm.
This value differs significantly from our expected
value; this indicates that our initial model is not
precise enough to predict the minimum height
needed for the particle to complete the loop-theloop.

Dominic Wynes-Devlin

Figure 4 Diagram showing rolling

motion and relation between
translational and rotational motion.
Variables/ Values

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N Normal reaction force to the curved surface

at a specific instant in time.

2
I = mr 2 (2)
5

[1.25]

r Radius of the sphere.

2 2
mr
5

I = moment of inertia of sphere =

[1.26]
(2)

We get

Ef =

g Acceleration due to gravity

vi

7
mu 2
10

By conservation of Energy : Ei= Ef

Velocity of particle at the bottom of the

loop - before it performs loop the loop.

[1.24]
(for non-slipping)

Since

m- Mass of marble (sphere)

Setting

Velocity of particle at any general point

vi

since it starts sliding from rest.

inside circular track.

Angular velocity

Angle turned through sphere in rolling

[1.27]

7
mu2 =mgh
10
2

u=

motion.
R Radius of circle

For the Energy at the bottom of the loop we

have:

Angle between the vertical and the line of

radius OP.

E2 i=

h Initial height of release.

W Work done due to Normal force

(With the reference point for the zero

potential being at the bottom of the loop.)

angle between the Normal force and

displacement at any general point.

Again, there is no loss of friction:

Mathematical Model
Since the marble is in rolling motion (without
slipping) the frictional force does no work at the
point of contact with ground since it is
instantaneously at rest. Once again the work
done due to the normal force = 0 - since the
normal force is perpendicular to the direction
of motion (the displacement) at all points. i.e.

W =Fs cos

, when

W =Fs cos 90

90

=0

Wfricition = 0
Using this knowledge we can obtain a
conservation of energy equation purely in terms
of mechanical energy (PE, translational KE and
rotational KE).

[1.28]

7
m v i2
10

(This is the combined translational and rotational

kinetic energy)

ui Initial velocity from point of release

10
gh
7

E2 i=E f

7
7
mu2 = m v i2
10
10

[1.22]

u2=v i2

Expressing the Total Energy for a general

point:

1cos

E2 f =mgR
(By conservation of energy)

E2 f =E2 i

Ei=mgh

Dominic Wynes-Devlin

[1.23]

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1cos

mgR

For the critical velocity:

Applying Newtons 2nd law in the radial direction

at the general point; towards the centre of the
loop:

F=m

[1.29]

v2
R

F=Nmg cos

v2
Nmgcos =m
R

Given that the other conditions have already

been satisfied the critical velocities within each
region can be evaluated.
By combining equations 1.29 and 1.28

N ( )=

17
10
m su
mgcos ( ) mg+
7
7
R

For < 90 and N > 0, cos () > 0,

[1.31]

u>

10
gR
7

The critical velocity at this angle is

ucritical=

10
gR
7

For 90 < < 180 and N< 0

10
27
gR< u<
gR
7
7

For > 180 where N > 0

u>

27
gR
7

We get the critical velocity that must be

exceeded
in-order to complete a whole
circular loop.

[1.32]

Dominic Wynes-Devlin

10
gh
7

u=

27
10
gR= gh
7
7

h=

j
k

27
R
10

Validating

We arrive at an expression for

[1.30]

27
gR
7

The critical height can be calculated using

equations and

F=ma

[1.33]

ucritical =

The predicted value of the height-h for which

the marble will completely go around the circular
Marble
rolling
downvalue
an inclined
plane.height
loop is Figure
33.755-cm.
The
actual
of the
was measured to be 43.00 cm.
This value still differs by a large range from our
expected value; although the model has been
refined it still does not predict the precise value
for h. One possible reason for this would be that
the marble was initially sliding down the inclined
slope before entering the circular loop. This
would
have decreased the initial total kinetic
energy of the marble at the bottom of the slope;
hence a smaller critical value for the initial
height since it doesnt require as much potential
energy since the minimum kinetic energy of the
marble is less.
EXTENSION
This factor of rotational and sliding motion is
now considered- that is; at what critical angle of
inclination for the slope does the marble cease
to roll and instead start sliding.
Figure 5
below shows the marble on the inclined plane
and the forces acting on it.

Variables/Values
-

N- Normal force
m- mass of marble
g- acceleration to gravity
F-static frictional force

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coefficient of static friction

- Angle of inclination for inclined plane

angle above horizontal direction.

-

Angular velocity

Angle turned through sphere in

rolling motion.
r Radius of marble
I moment of inertia of the marble

angular acceleration

cri

2
F= mg sin
7
This shows that as theta increases sin theta
increases
hence F will increase until it
reaches its maximum
value at the point
of slipping.
At point of slipping F =

= cri

Critical angle at which marble is

sliding.
a Linear acceleration.

Laws

2
N= mgsin cri
7

Substituting equation 1.35 for N

Newtons laws for linear acceleration

mg sin F=ma

[1.35]

[1.34]
2
mg cos cri= mg sin cri
7

mg cos =N

(Since the forces perpendicular to surface are in

equilibrium)
Newtons law for Angular acceleration

2
= tan cri
7

7
tan cri =
2

cri=sin 1

=I

[1.36]
=Fr

Law of static friction F N

(In order to not slip)
Given

2
I = mr 2
5

and

a=r

[1.37]

2
= mar
5
Equating equations 1.36 and 1.37

2
Fr= mar
5

[1.38]

2
F= ma
5
Substituting this value of ma into equation 1.34
and re-arranging for F, An equation for F as a
function of is obtained:

[1.39]
Dominic Wynes-Devlin

[1.40]
[1.41]

Conclusion
This investigation has showed that employing
the methods of mathematical modelling and the
laws of mechanics it is possible to understand
the workings of the loop the loop
rollercoaster. However for both models our
expected value for the height differed
significantly from the actual value. The main
reason for this would be due to the initial angle
of inclination for the inclined plane, furthermore
since the critical height only informs of what
height must be exceeded for it to complete a
whole loop it doesnt give us an actual numerical
value only an inequality i.e. it is greater than the
critical value. Taking this into consideration the
model still does correctly predict that the actual
value must be greater than the critical height
however the range between the two results
poses as a problem. If possible the model should
be re-evaluated to include any rolling friction
due to account for deformations on the tracks

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surface due to the marble, however using

equations of motion with friction often result in
differential equations that can only be solved
with numerical methods rather than producing
an actual solution. Furthermore whilst
maintaining the same overall vertical height we
could vary the inclined angle to see how this
affects the critical height- this also accounts for
the critical angle of slipping in the extension.

Dominic Wynes-Devlin

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