I just wanna check my work on this problem

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Homework Help Overview

The original poster presents a problem involving a ball that rebounds after falling from a height, exploring the total distance traveled, total time of travel, and the time taken for the ball to come to rest. The problem is situated within the context of kinematics and involves concepts of geometric series and motion under gravity.

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Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for total distance and total time, with some clarifying the time taken for rebounds. There is also uncertainty expressed regarding the calculations for part (c) of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to verify calculations and clarify the approach to the problem. Some participants have provided corrections and confirmations of the original poster's work, particularly regarding the total time calculation. However, there is still uncertainty about the solution for part (c).

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[tex]\textrm{Hello, folks. I just want to check my work on this problem. Thanks.}[/tex] :cool:

[tex]\textrm{A certain ball has the property that each time it falls from a height}[/tex] [tex]h[/tex] [tex]\textrm{onto a hard, level surface, it rebounds to a height}[/tex] [tex]rh[/tex] [tex]\textrm{, where}[/tex] [tex]0<r<1[/tex]. [tex]\textrm{Suppose that the ball is dropped from an initial height of}[/tex] [tex]H[/tex] [tex]\textrm{meters.}[/tex]

[tex]\textrm{(a) Assuming that the ball continues to bounce indefinitely, find the total distance that<br /> it travels.}[/tex]

[tex]H + 2rH + 2r^{2}H + 2r^{3}H + \cdots = H + 2H \sum _{n=1} ^{\infty} \left( r \right) r^{n-1} = H + 2H \left( \frac{r}{1-r} \right) = H \left( \frac{1+r}{1-r} \right)[/tex]

[tex]\textrm{(b) Calculate the total time that the ball travels.}[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + \sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} + \sqrt{\frac{2r^2H}{g}} + \sqrt{\frac{2r^3 H}{g}} + \cdots[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + \sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} \left( 1 + \sqrt{r} + \sqrt{r^2} + \sqrt{r^3} + \cdots \right)[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + \sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} \left( \frac{1}{1-\sqrt{r}} \right)[/tex]

[tex]\textrm{(c) Suppose that that each time the ball strikes the surface with velocity}[/tex] [tex]v[/tex] [tex]\textrm{it rebounds with velocity}[/tex] [tex]-kv[/tex][tex]\textrm{, where}[/tex] [tex]0<k<1[/tex]. [tex]\textrm{How long will it take for the ball to come <br /> to rest?}[/tex]

[tex]v_{\textrm{REST}} = v + kv + k^2 v + k^3 v + \cdots[/tex]

[tex]v_{\textrm{REST}} = v + \sum _{n=1} ^{\infty} \left( k v \right) k^{n-1}[/tex]

[tex]v_{\textrm{REST}} = v + \left( \frac{kv}{1-k} \right)[/tex]

[tex]\textrm{If } K=U, \textrm{we find}[/tex]

[tex]\frac{1}{2}mv_{\textrm{REST}} ^2= mgH[/tex]

[tex]\frac{1}{2}m\left[ v^2 + 2v^2 \left( \frac{k}{1-k} \right) + v^2 \left( \frac{k}{1-k} \right)^2 \right] = mgH[/tex]

[tex]H = \frac{1}{2g}\left[ v^2 + 2v^2 \left( \frac{k}{1-k} \right) + v^2 \left( \frac{k}{1-k} \right)^2 \right][/tex]

[tex]\textrm{which gives}[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{REST}} = - \frac{2\left| \frac{v}{g\left( k-1 \right)} \right|}{\sqrt{r}-1} - \left| \frac{v}{g\left( k-1 \right)} \right|[/tex]
 
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At b)
The time it takes to fall from a height h is [itex]\sqrt{\frac{2h}{g}}[/itex], so the time it takes to rebound to a height h and fall down to the ground again is twice as long.

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2r^2H}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2r^3 H}{g}} + \cdots[/tex]
 
[tex]\textrm{Yes, indeed. I should have written}[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2r^2H}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2r^3 H}{g}} + \cdots[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} \left( 1 + \sqrt{r} + \sqrt{r^2} + \sqrt{r^3} + \cdots \right)[/tex]

[tex]t_{\textrm{TOTAL}} = \sqrt{\frac{2H}{g}} + 2\sqrt{\frac{2rH}{g}} \left( \frac{1}{1-\sqrt{r}} \right)[/tex]

[tex]\textrm{Thanks.}[/tex]
 
Guys, I'm not so sure about what I found for part (c). Did I get it right?

Thank you.​
 
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