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Hot wheels

A1  1.00 Determine the moment of inertia of the wheel with the respect to its central axis. Express the answer in terms of $a$ and $m$.

We introduce the surface mass density of the wheel $\rho$:
\[
\rho = \dfrac{m}{4a^2},
\]
then the moment of inertia of the wheel is calculated using the formula:
\[
I = \int r^2 \, dm = \int r^2 \rho \, dS = \iint r^2 \rho \, dx\,dy = \rho \iint (x^2 + y^2)\, dx\,dy,
\]
Let us consider the integral:
\[
\iint (x^2 + y^2)\, dx\,dy = \int_{-a}^{a} dx \int_{-a}^{a} (x^2 + y^2)\, dy.
\]

We evaluate the integrals with respect to $dx$ and $dy$ separately.

\[
\int_{-a}^{a} (x^2 + y^2)\, dy
= \left( x^2 y + \dfrac{y^3}{3} \right)\Big|_{-a}^{a}
= 2a x^2 + \dfrac{2a^3}{3},
\]

\[
\int_{-a}^{a} \left( 2a x^2 + \dfrac{2a^3}{3} \right) dx
= \left( 2a \dfrac{x^3}{3} + \dfrac{2a^3}{3} x \right)\Big|_{-a}^{a}
= \dfrac{8a^4}{3}.
\]

Thus,

Ответ: \[ I = \dfrac{m}{4a^2}\cdot \dfrac{8a^4}{3} = \dfrac{2ma^2}{3}\]

Alternatively, one can use the formula for the moment of inertia of a rod. In this approach, the square can be considered as a system of rods, which leads to the same result as obtained previously.

A2  0.50
Determine the vehicle's total kinetic energy $E_{\text{kin}}$ and the angular velocity $\omega_T$ of the wheels in the tops of the road bump. Express the answer in the terms of $a$, $m$, $M$ and $v_0$. 

The total kinetic energy of the vehicle is the sum of the translational kinetic energy and the rotational kinetic energy of the wheels (according to parallel axis theorem). The angular velocity of the wheels can be determined from the linear velocity of the vehicle and the distance from the wheel axis to the point of contact with the road:
\[
v(t) = \omega(t)\, r(t) \;\Rightarrow\; \omega(t) = \dfrac{v(t)}{r(t)}.
\]

When the car is at the top of the road bump, the distance from the axis to the point of contact is equal to $a$, therefore:

Ответ: \[ \omega_T = \dfrac{v_0}{a} \]

Then, to calculate the kinetic energy using parallel axis theorem:
\[
E_{\text{kin}} = E_{\text{translate}} + E_{\text{rotate}}
= \left( M + 2m \right)\dfrac{v_0^2}{2} + \dfrac{I \omega_T^2}{2},
\]
from which we obtain:

Ответ: \[ E_{\text{kin}} = \dfrac{3M + 10m}{6} \cdot v_0^2\]
A3  1.00
Using the energy conservation law, determine the angular velocity $\omega_{V}$ of the wheels in the valley. Express the answers in terms of $a$, $m$, $M$ and $v_0$.

The kinetic energy remains constant throughout the motion; therefore, the angular velocity of the wheels can be found from the distance between the axis and the point of contact. At the valley of the road, this distance is equal to $\sqrt{2}\,a$:
\[
E_{\text{kin}} = \left( M + 2m \right)\dfrac{v^2}{2} + \dfrac{I\omega^2}{2}
= \left( M + 2m \right)\dfrac{(\omega r)^2}{2} + \dfrac{I\omega^2}{2},
\]
\[
E_{\text{kin}} = \left( M + 2m \right)\dfrac{(\omega r)^2}{2} + \dfrac{2ma^2\omega^2}{2\cdot 3}
= \dfrac{\omega^2}{2}\left( r^2(M+2m) + a^2\dfrac{2m}{3} \right).
\]

Substituting $r = \sqrt{2}\,a$:
\[
E_{\text{kin}} = \omega_V^2 a^2 \dfrac{3M + 8m}{3},
\]
and equating this to the initial kinetic energy:
\[
\omega_V^2 a^2 \dfrac{3M + 8m}{3} = \dfrac{3M + 10m}{6}\, v_0^2,
\]
from which:

Ответ: \[ \omega_V = \dfrac{v_0}{a}\sqrt{\dfrac{3M+10m}{6M+16m}}\]
B1  1.00 Write down the equation relating the coordinate of the road bump surface $y(x)$ and its slope angle $\alpha$.

Since the point of contact between the wheel and the road is always located directly below the axle, we write the distance from the wheel axis to the level of the valley — it remains constant:
\[
GO = G' O' = G' T' + T' O'.
\]

Ответ: \[ \sqrt{2}a = \dfrac{a}{\cos \alpha} + y(x) \]
B2  1.00 Using the previous form for the $y(x)$, express the slope of the road $\tan \alpha(x)$ in terms of $k$, $h$, $a$, $x$.

Note that the angle of inclination of the road is equal to the angle of inclination of the tangent to the road; therefore,
\[
\tan \alpha = -y'(x).
\]

We differentiate the equation describing the shape of the road to compute the tangent of the inclination angle:
\[
y'(x) = -\dfrac{h}{2a}\left(e^{x/a} - e^{-x/a}\right),
\]
from which we obtain

Ответ: \[ \tan \alpha = \dfrac{h}{2a} (e^{x/a}-e^{-x/a})\]
B3  2.00 Substitute the formulae of the $y(x)$ and $\tan \alpha(x)$ into the equation obtained in B1. Determine the values of the parameters $k$ and $h$. Express the answer in terms of $a$.

We express $\cos \alpha$ in terms of $\tan \alpha$ using the fundamental trigonometric identity:
\[
\cos \alpha = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1+\tan^2 \alpha}}.
\]
Combining the results of parts B1 and B2, we obtain:
\[
\sqrt{2}a = a\sqrt{1+\tan^2\alpha} + k - h\cdot\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2},
\]
\[
\sqrt{2}a = a\sqrt{1+\left(\dfrac{h}{2a} (e^{x/a}-e^{-x/a})\right)^2} + k - h\cdot\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2},
\]
\[
\left(\sqrt{2}a - k + h\cdot \dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}\right)^2
= a^2 + \left(\dfrac{h}{2} (e^{x/a}-e^{-x/a})\right)^2.
\]

The equation must hold at every point of the road. Let us consider the point $x=0$, where $e^{x/a}=e^{-x/a}=1$:
\[
\left( \sqrt{2}a - k + h \right)^2 = a^2
\;\Rightarrow\;
\dfrac{k-h}{a} = \sqrt{2}-1.
\]

Then the equation takes the form:
\[
\left(a - h + h\cdot \dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}\right)^2
= a^2 + \left(\dfrac{h}{2} (e^{x/a}-e^{-x/a})\right)^2,
\]
\[
\left(a + h\left(\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}-1\right)\right)^2
= a^2 + \left(\dfrac{h}{2} (e^{x/a}-e^{-x/a})\right)^2.
\]

Expanding the brackets:
\[
2ah\left(\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}-1\right)
+ h^2 \left(\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}-1\right)^2
= h^2 \left(\dfrac{e^{x/a}-e^{-x/a}}{2}\right)^2,
\]
\[
ah(e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}-2) - h^2(e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}) + h^2 = -h^2,
\]
\[
(ah - h^2)(e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}) = 2ah - 2h^2,
\]
which is satisfied at any point when $a = h$, from which we obtain:
 

Ответ: \[ k = \sqrt{2}a \]\[ h = a \]
B4  0.50 Determine the horizontal length of one road bump $d$.

Knowing the values of $k$ and $h$, the equation describing the shape of the road takes the form:
\[
y(x) = a\left(\sqrt{2} - \dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2} \right).
\]

To determine the length of the road bump, let us find the $x$-coordinates of the valleys, i.e., where $y=0$:
\[
0 = a\left(\sqrt{2} - \dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2} \right)
\;\Rightarrow\;
2\sqrt{2} = e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}.
\]

To solve this equation, introduce an auxiliary variable $z = e^{x/a}$:
\[
2\sqrt{2} = z + \dfrac{1}{z}
\;\Rightarrow\;
z^2 - 2\sqrt{2}\,z + 1 = 0,
\]
from which we obtain:
\[
z = \sqrt{2} \pm 1
\;\Rightarrow\;
e^{x/a} = \sqrt{2} \pm 1.
\]

Considering $x>0$, only one root remains:
\[
e^{x/a} = \sqrt{2}+1
\;\Rightarrow\;
\dfrac{x}{a} = \ln(\sqrt{2}+1).
\]

Thus, the coordinates of the valleys are:
\[
x_d = a\ln(\sqrt{2}+1),
\qquad
x_s = -a\ln(\sqrt{2}+1),
\]
from which we find the length of the road bump:

Ответ: \[ d = x_d - x_s = 2a\log(\sqrt{2}+1) \]
C1  1.50 Angular velocity of the wheel as a function if the road horizontal coordinate $\omega(x)$. Express the answer in terms of $a$, $m$, $M$ and $v_0$.

From part A3, we know that the angular velocity of the wheels can be expressed in terms of the distance from the axis to the point of contact with the road:
\[
\dfrac{\omega^2}{2} \left( r^2(M+2m) + a^2\dfrac{2m}{3} \right)
= \dfrac{3M + 10m}{6}\, v_0^2.
\]

The distance $r(x)$ can be expressed using the shape of the road:
\[
r(x) = \sqrt{2}a - y(x).
\]

Solving this system, we obtain:
 

Ответ: \[ \omega(x) = \dfrac{v_0\sqrt{\dfrac{3M+10m}{6}}}{a\sqrt{\dfrac{M+2m}{2}\Big(\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}\Big)+\dfrac{2}{3}m}}\]
C2  1.50 Horizontal velocity of the vehicle as a function if the road horizontal coordinate $v(x)$. Express the answer in terms of $a$, $m$, $M$ and $v_0$.

Ответ: Using the relation $v(x) = \omega(x)\cdot r(x)$:
\[ v(x) = \dfrac{v_0\sqrt{\dfrac{3M+10m}{6}}}{\sqrt{\dfrac{M+2m}{2}+\dfrac{2}{3}m\cdot\Big(\dfrac{e^{x/a}+e^{-x/a}}{2}\Big)^{-1}}}\]