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PROBLEM 19.58
A 1300-kg sports car has a center of gravity G located a distance h above a line
connecting the front and rear axles. The car is suspended from cables that are
attached to the front and rear axles as shown. Knowing that the periods of
oscillation are 4.04 s when L = 4 m and 3.54 s when L = 3 m, determine h and the
centroidal radius of gyration.
SOLUTION
Let the mass center of the car be displaced a small distance x to the right. The mass center is moves on a
circular arc of radius L − h, so that x = (L − h) sin
θ
, where
θ
is the counterclockwise rotation of the car.
From kinematics
()
t
aLh
θθ
==−
The moment of the weight force about O is
0()sinMmgLh
=− −
0()
t
ILhma
α
=+−
2
()sin ()mg L h I m L h
θθ
−− =+−
Dividing by m and transposing terms yields
22
[()]()sin0kLh gLh
θθ
−+− =
For small angle
θ
, sin
θ
≈
22
22
22
() 0
()
()
0()
nn
gL h
kLh
gL h
kLh
θθ
θωθ ω
−
+=
+−
−
+= =
+−
22
2
() ()
n
g
kLh Lh
ω
−= −