PC1431 Physics IE: Tutorial 3

Question 1 Conservative force and energy conservation: two springs

A particle of mass m is attached between two identical springs on a horizontal frictionless table (see gure above). Both springs have spring constant k and are initially unstretched. a) If the particle is pulled a distance x along a direction perpendicular to the initial conguration of the springs, show that the force exerted by the springs on the particle is L . F = 2kx 1 2 x + L2 (1)

b) Determine the amount of work done by this force in moving the particle from x = A to x = 0. c) If the particle is pulled a distance x along a direction perpendicular to the initial conguration of the springs, show that the potential energy of the system is U (x) = kx2 + 2kl L x2 + L 2 . (2)

d) Identify all equilibrium points. e) Assume that L = 1.20 m and k = 40.0 N/m. If the particle of mass m = 1.18 kg is pulled 0.500 m to the right and then released, what is its speed when it reaches the equilibrium point x = 0? [Answers: x = 0, 0.823 m/s]

Department of Physics, National University of Singapore

Question 2 Completely Inelastic Collision: Two objects of masses 2.0 kg and 6.0kg slide without friction down the sides of a hemispherical bowl as shown in the gure below. Both start with zero velocity at the lip, which is 12 cm above the bottom. The objects collide at the bottom of the bowl. Just before the collision, they are moving at right angles to each other. To what maximum height above the bowl will the objects move if the collision is completely inelastic ? You may treat the objects as small particles.

12 cm

Question 3

A block of mass m = 1.62 kg slides down a frictionless track (see gure above). The block is released at a height h = 3.91 m above the bottom of the loop. a) b) c) d) What is the force of the inclined track on the block at the bottom (point A)? What is the force on the track on the block at point B ? At what speed does the block leave the track? Sketch the potential energy U (x) of the block. Indicate the total energy on the sketch.

Department of Physics, National University of Singapore

Question 4 Center of mass: In the 1968 Olympic Games, University of Oregon jumper Dick Fosbury introduced a new technique of high jumping called the Fosbury op. It contributed to raising the world record by about 30 cm, and is presently used by nearly every world class jumper. In this technique, the jumper goes over the bar face up while arching his back as much as possible. This action places his center of mass outside his body, below his back. As his body goes over the bar, his center of mass passes below the bar. Because a given energy input implies a certain elevation for his center of mass, the action of arching his back means his body is higher than if his back were straight.

90

As a model, consider the jumper as a thin uniform rod of length L. When the rod is straight, its center of mass is at its center. Now bend the rod in a circular arc so that it subtends an angle of 90.0 at the center of the arc as shown in the gure above. In this conguration, how far outside the rod is the center of mass? [Answer: 0.0635L]

For discussion in the Forum Question 5 Two particles with masses m and 3m are moving towards each other along the x-axis with the same initial speeds vi . Particle m is traveling to the left, while particle 3m is traveling to the right. They undergo an elastic glancing collision such that particle m is moving downward after the collision at right angles from its initial direction. What is the angle at which the particle 3m is scattered? [Answer: 35.3 ]

Department of Physics, National University of Singapore

Question 6 A small block slides from rest from the top of a frictionless sphere of radius R as shown in the gure below. The sphere does not move. How far below the top, x, does it lose contact with the sphere?

x R

Department of Physics, National University of Singapore