Find cable tension as bar and cylinder accelerate from rest.

Source: homework.study.com

TL;DR

The story at a glance

This homework problem describes a mechanics setup where a uniform bar of mass m, pinned smoothly at O, connects via a light cable over pulley C to a hanging cylinder of mass m1. The system starts from rest in a shown position—bar inclined at 23° to horizontal, marks at L/3 and 2L/3—and asks for the cable tension right after release. It provides sample values like m=40 kg, m1=12 kg, L=4.5 m.[[1]](https://www.numerade.com/ask/question/the-uniform-bar-of-mass-m-is-supported-by-the-smooth-pin-at-o-and-is-connected-to-the-cylinder-of-mass-m1-by-the-light-cable-which-passes-over-the-light-pulley-at-c-if-the-system-is-released-49097)

Key points

Details and context

The smooth pin at O allows rotation without friction, so the bar pivots there under gravity and cable tension. The center of mass of the uniform bar is at L/2 from O, creating a torque from its weight mg (component perpendicular to bar).

Cable tension T pulls the bar (reducing clockwise torque from weight) and accelerates m1 downward via T = m1 a, where a is linear acceleration. Kinematic link: if cable attaches at distance d from O (possibly 2L/3 or L), then a = d α.

To solve, draw free-body diagrams—for cylinder: vertical forces; for bar: pin reactions at O, weight at center, tension T tangent at attachment. Use ΣF=ma for cylinder, ΣM_O = I_O α for bar (I_O = (1/3)m L^2 for uniform bar about end), and relate a and α. Position marks (L/3, 2L/3) likely indicate attachment or pulley location relative to O.[[1]](https://www.numerade.com/ask/question/the-uniform-bar-of-mass-m-is-supported-by-the-smooth-pin-at-o-and-is-connected-to-the-cylinder-of-mass-m1-by-the-light-cable-which-passes-over-the-light-pulley-at-c-if-the-system-is-released-49097)

This is a standard rigid body dynamics problem, testing coupled translation-rotation. No friction means pure gravitational drive; light cable/pulley neglects their inertia.

Key quotes

None; this is a textbook-style homework problem without sourced quotes.

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