The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping
The motion of weights attached to a chain or string moving on a frictionless pulley is a classic problem of introductory physics used to understand the relationship between force and acceleration. Here, we consider the dynamics of the chain when one of the weights is removed and, thus, one end is pu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
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Royal Society
2016
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| _version_ | 1797074894086733824 |
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| author | Brun, P Audoly, B Goriely, A Vella, D |
| author_facet | Brun, P Audoly, B Goriely, A Vella, D |
| author_sort | Brun, P |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The motion of weights attached to a chain or string moving on a frictionless pulley is a classic problem of introductory physics used to understand the relationship between force and acceleration. Here, we consider the dynamics of the chain when one of the weights is removed and, thus, one end is pulled with constant acceleration. This simple change has dramatic consequences for the ensuing motion: at a finite time, the chain ‘lifts off’ from the pulley and the free end subsequently accelerates faster than the end that is pulled. Eventually, the chain undergoes a dramatic reversal of curvature reminiscent of the crack, or snap, of a whip. We combine experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical arguments to explain key aspects of this dynamical problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:42:50Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:6fe525e4-40e4-4704-a219-6f32f0f2b639 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:42:50Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Royal Society |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:6fe525e4-40e4-4704-a219-6f32f0f2b6392022-03-26T19:33:43ZThe surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snappingJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:6fe525e4-40e4-4704-a219-6f32f0f2b639Symplectic Elements at OxfordRoyal Society2016Brun, PAudoly, BGoriely, AVella, DThe motion of weights attached to a chain or string moving on a frictionless pulley is a classic problem of introductory physics used to understand the relationship between force and acceleration. Here, we consider the dynamics of the chain when one of the weights is removed and, thus, one end is pulled with constant acceleration. This simple change has dramatic consequences for the ensuing motion: at a finite time, the chain ‘lifts off’ from the pulley and the free end subsequently accelerates faster than the end that is pulled. Eventually, the chain undergoes a dramatic reversal of curvature reminiscent of the crack, or snap, of a whip. We combine experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical arguments to explain key aspects of this dynamical problem. |
| spellingShingle | Brun, P Audoly, B Goriely, A Vella, D The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping |
| title | The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping |
| title_full | The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping |
| title_fullStr | The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping |
| title_full_unstemmed | The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping |
| title_short | The surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley: Lift-off and snapping |
| title_sort | surprising dynamics of a chain on a pulley lift off and snapping |
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