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In the figure, block 1 of mass m 1 slides from rest along a frictionless ramp fr

ID: 1325296 • Letter: I

Question

In the figure, block 1 of mass m1 slides from rest along a frictionless ramp from height h = 2 m and then collides with stationary block 2, which has mass m2 = 5m1. After the collision, block 2 slides into a region where the coefficient of kinetic friction ?k is 0.6 and comes to a stop in distance d within that region. What is the value of distance d if the collision is (a) elastic and (b) completely inelastic?

Can you show the steps taken?

In the figure, block 1 of mass m1 slides from rest along a frictionless ramp from height h = 2 m and then collides with stationary block 2, which has mass m2 = 5m1. After the collision, block 2 slides into a region where the coefficient of kinetic friction ?k is 0.6 and comes to a stop in distance d within that region. What is the value of distance d if the collision is (a) elastic and (b) completely inelastic? Can you show the steps taken?

Explanation / Answer

a) first to compute the velocity of m1 just before collision ,

using energy conservation,

mgh = mu^2 /2

u =sqrt(2gh) = sqrt(2*9.81*2) = 6.26 m/s

now using momentum conservation,

m1 * 6.26 + m2*0   = m1*(-v1) + m2*v2

and m2 = 5m1

6.26m1 = -m1v1 + 5m1v2

5v2 - v1 = 6.26    ..... (i)

for elastic collision,

velocity of sepration = velocity of approach

v1 +v2 = 6.26   .... (ii)

solving (i) and (ii) ,

v1 = 4.17 m/s

v2 = 2.09 m/s

in horizontal ,

Fnet = friction force = ma

u.mg = ma

a =u.g = 0.6 x 9.81 = 5.89 m/s2

using v^2 - u^2 = 2ad

0 - 2.09^2 = 2 x -5.89 x d

d = 0.371 m

b) inelastic collision ,

first to compute the velocity of m1 just before collision ,

using energy conservation,

mgh = mu^2 /2

u =sqrt(2gh) = sqrt(2*9.81*2) = 6.26 m/s

now using momentum conservation,

m1 * 6.26 + m2*0   = (m1 + m2)v

and m2 = 5m1

6.26m1 = (m1 + 5m1)v

v =1.04 m/s

in horizontal ,

Fnet = friction force = ma

u.mg = ma

a =u.g = 0.6 x 9.81 = 5.89 m/s2

using v^2 - u^2 = 2ad

0 - 1.04^2 = 2 x -5.89 x d

d = 0.0924 m