At What Distance Above the Ground Will the Mass First Come to Rest?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a physics problem involving a 10kg mass attached to an elastic string with a spring constant of 600 N/m, fixed to a beam 2.5m above the ground. The mass falls freely, and the calculations reveal that the mass first comes to rest at a distance of approximately 0.1263m above the ground. The potential energy at the height of the beam is calculated as 150J, and the stretch of the string is determined using the equation ΣF=0, leading to the conclusion that the mass will oscillate around the equilibrium position before coming to rest.

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  • Understanding of gravitational potential energy (U=mgh)
  • Familiarity with elastic potential energy equations (E=1/2 D*A²)
  • Knowledge of Hooke's Law (F=kx)
  • Basic principles of oscillatory motion
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Homework Statement



A mass of 10kg is attached to one end of an elastic string of unstretched length 1.5 m, the other end of the string being fixed to a beam located 2.5 m above ground level. The spring constant of the string is 600 Nm-1. If the mass is allowed to fall freely from the beam, at what distance above the ground will it first come to rest? (for this question, assume that g = 10 m s-2.)


Homework Equations



U=mgh
E=1/2 D*A2

The Attempt at a Solution



I am really confused here.

First of all , i found by how much the wire is stretched when the object is attached .so
ΣF=0 <=> mg=kx <=> x= (1/6) m .

When we lift the object to the height of the beam the object will have Potential energy =mgh = 10*10*1.5=150J ( from the equilibrium position )

So i said that 1/2 D*A2 = 150 so A=0.707 m

The distance of the position of equilibrium from the floor will be 2.5 - 1.5 -(1/6)=5/6 .

So the object will go as down as 5/6 + A Therefore the minimum distance from the floor will be (5/6) - A = 0.1263 m .

is my solution correct ? Thank you for your time :°)
 
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ZxcvbnM2000 said:
… If the mass is allowed to fall freely from the beam, at what distance above the ground will it first come to rest?

First of all , i found by how much the wire is stretched when the object is attached .so
ΣF=0 <=> mg=kx <=> x= (1/6) m .

When we lift the object to the height of the beam the object will have Potential energy =mgh = 10*10*1.5=150J ( from the equilibrium position )

So i said that 1/2 D*A2 = 150 so A=0.707 m

The distance of the position of equilibrium from the floor will be 2.5 - 1.5 -(1/6)=5/6 .

So the object will go as down as 5/6 + A Therefore the minimum distance from the floor will be (5/6) - A = 0.1263 m .

ZxcvbnM2000, you're not asked for the equilibrium position, you're asked for the (initial) rest position.

The object will sail through the equilibrium position at high speed, and come to rest well below it! :wink:

Start again. :smile:
 
Yeah that's what i am saying . It will come to rest every time it reaches +A or -A , right ?
 

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