Roly-poly

Statics Project

Ke Tuong Thai (Ricky)

11/30/2020

Introduction:

The roly-poly project is the project which helps students learning about the mechanical
equilibrium of an object, the force balance, moment of force, and how they depend on the center
gravity of the roly-poly. The goal of this project is attempting to recreate an object consist of a
half sphere and a cylinder with the identical radius. This project is really important because it is
the reflection of many topics that we learned throughout the semester, and how we apply these
topics into a real-life situation.
Theory:

R (cm) H (cm) m (g) error (g)

m1 4 1 210 5
m2 4 2 250 5
m3 4 2.83 300 5
m4 4 4 360 5
Table 1: data of the 4 roly-polys

Calculation of the center of mass:

1 3 2
(2 ∗ 1) (𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 1) + (1 + 8 ∗ 4)(3 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
𝑦1 =
̅̅̅
2
(𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 1) + ( ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
3
= 2.83

𝑥𝑐1 = 1.96 − 1 = 0.96

1 3 2
(2 ∗ 2) (𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 2) + (2 + 8 ∗ 4)(3 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
𝑦2 =
̅̅̅
2
(𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 2) + ( ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
3
𝑥2 = 2.44 − 2 = 0.44

1 3 2
(2 ∗ 2√2) (𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 2√2) + (2√2 + 8 ∗ 4)(3 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
𝑦3 =
̅̅̅
2
(𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 2√2) + ( ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
3
𝑥𝑐3 = 2.83 − 2.83 = 0

1 3 2
(2 ∗ 4) (𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 4) + (4 + 8 ∗ 4)(3 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
𝑦2 =
̅̅̅
2
(𝜋 ∗ 42 ∗ 4) + ( ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 42 )
3
𝑥𝑐4 = 3.4 − 4 = −0.6

Experiment 1:
 Figure 1: FBD of experiment 1

+ Potential energy before applying a force:

P = mg (R – xc)

Note:

xc is the distance from the center of mass to the radius. Since the center of mass is within the
radius of the sphere we must use “R – xc”

+ Total energy when applying a force:

U = mg ((R – xcCos(θ)) – (R – xc)) – F(R θ + HSin(θ))

Note:

1. Explanation for “mg ((R – xcCos(θ)) – (R – xc))”

+ “R – xcCos(θ)” is the new height from the center of gravity which we can see from
figure 1. xcCos(θ) is the vertical compnent of xc when it was tilted.
+ As mentioned earlier, since “R - xc” is the original height, we must subtract it to get
the change in height.
2. Explanation for “F (R θ + HSin(θ))”
+ This is the work of the external force W = Fd.
+ In order to get d, we must be able to get the change in horizonal distance which is
“R θ + HSin(θ)”
 + “R θ” is the formula for arc length because when the sphere tilted, it moves a
distance equal to that arclength with the addition of Hsin which in this case is the
change in horizontal distance of the point that the force exerted of the cylinder.

+ Total energy divide by (mgR)

U = (U/mgR)

= {mg ((R – xcCos(θ)) – (R – xc)) – F(R θ + HSin(θ))}/mgR

= {mg ((xc (1 – Cos(θ)) – F(R θ + HSin(θ))}/mgR

= (xc/R)(1 – Cos(θ)) – (F/mg)( θ + (H/R)Sin(θ))

+ dU/dθ = 0

dU/dθ = mg xcSin(θ) – F(R + HCos(θ))

0 = mg xcSin(θ) – F(R + HCos(θ))

F = {mg xcSin(θ)}/(R + Hcos(θ))

+ Applied Force vs Tilting Angle

Note: Red (H/R = ¼), Green (H/R = ½), Blue (H/R = 2.83/4), Purple (H/R = 1)

+ Total Energy vs Tilting Angle

 H/R = ¼

H/R = ½

H/R = 2.83/4
 H/R = 1

Experiment 2:

Figure 2: FBD of experiment 2 part 1

Figure 3: FBD of roly-poly part 2

+ Potential energy without applying a force:

P = mg (H + xc)

Note: for this experiment, since the lower side is the cylinder, and the center of gravity is
assumed to be above the cylinder so we need to add xc with H instead of subtracting it.

+ Total energy when applying a force:

U = mg (((H + xc) Cos(θ) + RSin(θ)) – (H + xc)) – F (R – Rcos(θ) + (H + R)Sin(θ))

Note:

1. Explanation of “(((H + xc) Cos(θ) + RSin(θ)) - (H + xc))”

+ From figure 1, as showed, the new height from the center of gravity of the roly-poly is
equal to “((H + xc) Cos(θ) + RSin(θ))”
+ With “((H + xc) Cos(θ)” is the new height within the roly-poly, and “RSin(θ)” as the
space that the roly-poly created when it tilted.
2. Explanation of “F (R – Rcos(θ) + (H + R)Sin(θ))”
+ This is also the work of the force, W = Fd
+ For d, it is the change in horizontal distance of the force from the original spot the it
exerted the force on.
+ Originally, we can understand d is equal to “R.” As the result, when it was pull to the
left, we must use “-Rcos(θ) + (H + R)Sin(θ))” which in this case is the new distance of F
as showed in figure 3 subtract “-R”

+ Total energy divided by (mgR)

U1 = U/mgR

= {mg (((H + xc) Cos(θ) + RSin(θ)) – (H + xc)) – F (R – Rcos(θ) + (H + R)Sin(θ))}/mgR

= {(((H + xc) Cos(θ) + RSin(θ)) – (H + xc))}/R – (F/mg)( (R – Rcos(θ) + (H + R)Sin(θ))/R)

+ dU/dθ = 0

dU/dθ = mg (RCos(θ) - (H + xc) Sin(θ)) – F ((H + R) Cos(θ) + Rsin(θ))

0 = mg (RCos(θ) - (H + xc) Sin(θ)) – F ((H + R) Cos(θ) + Rsin(θ))

 F = {mg (RCos(θ) - (H + xc) Sin(θ))}/ ((H + R) Cos(θ) + Rsin(θ))

+ Applied Force vs Tilting Angle:

+ Total Energy vs Tilting Angle:

H/R = ¼

H/R = ½
 H/R = 1/2.83

H/R = 1

Experiment 3:

Figure 4: FBD for experiment 3

+ Potential energy without applying a force:

P = mgR

Note:

Unlike the other two, for this one, when the roly-poly lies down, its height is simply the radius of
both the sphere and the cylinder from the center of gravity.

+ Total energy when applying a force:

U = mg (((H – xc) Sin(θ) + RCos(θ)) – R) – F ((HSin(θ) + R (Sin(θ) + Cos(θ)) – R)

Note:

1. Explanation for “(((H – xc) Sin(θ) + RCos(θ)) – R)”

+ In figure 3, we can see when the roly-poly is pulled up, the change in y can be break
down into two part. At first, h is only R, now, the new R must be Rcos(θ), the new
vertical component with the addition of “(H – xc) Sin(θ).” This new section is because
the roly-poly is being pulled upward. From that, there is a new vertical component of the
distance of “H-xc” which doesn’t exist before.
+ In order to get the change in h, we must subtract the original height which was R.
2. Explanation of F ((HSin(θ) + R (Sin(θ) + Cos(θ)) – R)
+ This is the work of the force, W = Fd
+ Unlike the previous experiment, this is a vertically upward force. So we must take in
account the vertical change of the top of the sphere where the force is applied.
+ For this, the vertical force has 3 components. First, “HSin(θ)” is the change in vertical
distance outside of the roly-poly where it has an angle as showed in figure 4. Second and
third, “R (Sin(θ) + Cos(θ))” are the two new vertical component within the roly-poly.
From originally R, we must break it down into Rcos(θ) and Rsin(θ); but for cos, we use
the original vertical R, and for sin we use the original perpendicular R which can be see
in figure 3.
+ Lastly, to get the change in d, we also need to subtract R.

+ Total energy divided by (mgR)

U1 = U/mgR

= {mg (((H – xc) Sin(θ) + RCos(θ)) – R) – F ((HSin(θ) + R (Sin(θ) + Cos(θ)) – R) }/mgR

= { (((H – xc) Sin(θ) + RCos(θ)) – R)}/R – (F/mg){((HSin(θ) + R (Sin(θ) + Cos(θ)) – R)}/R

+ dU/dθ = 0

U = mg (((H – xc) Sin(θ) + RCos(θ)) – R) – F ((HSin(θ) + R (Sin(θ) + Cos(θ)) – R)

dU/dθ = mg((H – xc) Cos(θ) – Rsin(θ)) – F(H + R) Cos(θ) – RSin(θ)

0 = mg((H – xc) Cos(θ) – Rsin(θ)) – F(H + R) Cos(θ) – RSin(θ)

F = (mg((H – xc) Cos(θ) – Rsin(θ)))/ (H + R) Cos(θ) – RSin(θ)

+Applied Force vs Tilting Angle:

+ Total Energy vs Tilting Angle:

H/R = ¼
 H/R = ½

H/R = 1/2.83

H/R = 1
Experimental:

+ Materials and fabrication: 4 wood roly-polys, a scale, pencil, rice, spoon to scoop the rice, a
plastic bag, a phone, string, glue gun.

+ Setup: Create a wood roly-poly. Use glue gun to attach the string to the roly-poly. Connect the
plastic bag with the string. Use the pencil with some Vaseline as a pulley system.

+ Procedure: After finishing with the setup, measure the weight of the roly-polys. After that, start
doing the experiment by simply adding rice to the bag. Then, when the roly-poly starts tilting,
measure the weight of that bag of rice. For each experiment, repeat this step 5 times for each
roly-poly. To measure the angle, use the “measure app” on IOS.

+ Pictures with the roly-poly

Analysis/ discussion:

+ Deviation between measurement and theory:

My experimental and the theoretical values was not really accurate. There are a few reasons for
this. Firstly, for my roly-poly, even though I tried to make the best possible roly-poly but
unfortunately, they could not perfectly balance so before even adding some weight to the roly-
poly, they are already tilted a little. This really affect the experimental results. Furthermore, since
some of the tilting angle is small and I was measuring the angle without professional tools, so it
is very difficult to get the good data. The other source of error also comes from the pulley
system; I tried to minimize the friction between the pencil and the string with Vaseline already,
but the friction is still there. It really affected my results since sometimes adding weight did not
change the angle because of the friction. Lastly, I decided to use my hand as the base of the
pencil because I believe it is the most flexible way to get the result. But since my hand is not aa
professional tool at all so there will be some error due to my hands.

+ How to improve:

After experiencing all the procedure, I think there are a feel way to improve the measurement.
Firstly, if possible and financially acceptable, I will find a professional wood making place and
order a perfect roly-poly. Secondly, if I can prepare a professional angle measuring tool, it will
definitely help me a lot in gathering the data. Third, I think if I was able to buy a thin string with
a really smooth material with the application of oil instead of Vaseline, the friction can possible
be reduced even more. Lastly, I think being more careful and spend more time to do the
experiment will help.

+ What I learned:

I learned many things throughout project. From being able to gather a lot of data quick and
effective to time management. I was also able to learn how to write a professional report. Lastly,
I was able to apply what I learn from the statics course into real-life situation.

Concluding remark:

This project is a chance for students to apply and improve their skill on many topics that we
covered throughout the year include moments, force, center of gravity, stability, and energy. It
also helps students to experience report writing and enhance problem solving skills. For me,
there were difficulties such as how to look for a good scale of the roly-poly and how to build
them so that they are proper to use in the project. It is also really challenging to create a pulley
system. However, I learned and overcame those setbacks. In conclusion, this project is a perfect
sum up of what we learn in the class.

Video:

[Link]