- #1
phyzz
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Homework Statement
Consider a small box of mass m sitting on a wedge with an angle θ and fixed to a spring
with a spring constant k and a length in a non-stretched state L. The wedge
rotates with an angular velocity ω around the vertical axis. Find the equilibrium
position of the box and discuss the conditions when such equilibrium is possible and when it is impossible. The box can move only in the direction along the wedge slope and cannot move in the perpendicular direction (e.g. it is on a rail)
2. The attempt at a solution
First of all I don't know what it's asking exactly so I started with Fmax? I.e. when the mass is going up the plane.
I started with Conservation of Energy:
1/2mv^2 = 1/2kx^2 + mgh (general equation using r = L and h = Lsinθ)
v^2/r = ω (circular motion)
vmax^2/r = kx^2/mr + 2gh/r (I divided everything by r so it fits into the Fmax equation using mrω^2 instead of mv^2/r)
In the end I get Fmax = kx^2 + 2mgLsinθ
Could someone help me out please? I'm really lost :(