Search
 
 

DYNAMICS - CASE STUDY

    Introduction


Problem Graphic

 

The pendulum for the grandfather clock in the previous Moment of Inertia section rotates about a pin through the top of the pendulum. In order to build clocks that don't collapse, the engineers need to determine the force that the pin exerts on the pendulum as it swings.

What is known:

  • The pendulum is released from rest at an angle of 15° to the left of vertical.
  • The distance from the top of the pendulum to its center of gravity is d = 1.442 ft.
  • The pendulum has a moment of inertia about the top IA = 7.289 slug-ft2 (calculated in previous section).
  • The pendulum has a mass m = 3.17 slugs.
     

Problem Diagram
  Question

 

When the pendulum reaches a vertical position, what is the angular acceleration of the pendulum? What force is exerted on the pendulum by the pin?

   
  Approach

 
  • Use the relationship between applied moment and moment of inertia to determine the angular acceleration.
  • Use Newton's Second Law to determine the unknown forces acting on the pendulum.
     
   
 
Practice Homework and Test problems now available in the 'Eng Dynamics' mobile app
Includes over 400 free problems with complete detailed solutions.
Available at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.