Ballistic pendulum, finding final height

[jorcrobe]

Homework Statement

The Attempt at a Solution

I used conservation of momentum for the initial velocity of mass 2, and conservation of mechanical energy for the movement from rest to highest position, KE=PE.

The answer that I received is selected in the screenshot. However, when the calculations were completed, I received a value of 1.81m... Which is longer than the string. Does anyone spot my problem? Thank you.

 

[Ericv_91]

Explain why KE=PE at the highest position.

 

[jorcrobe]

So, the KE is not being conserved as PE? I see that there is also a horizontal displacement.

 

[Ericv_91]

Forget what I said, I misread/misunderstood your explanation. Yes, energy is conserved here.

When you are calculating h from the potential energy equation, what does h represent?

 

[jorcrobe]

Forget what I said, I misread/misunderstood your explanation. Yes, energy is conserved here.

When you are calculating h from the potential energy equation, what does h represent?

The distance from the x axis, y=0.

 

[Ericv_91]

Right. y=0, which is the position where the ball is hanging, to the position where the ball is at a max height. One would assume that to create an equation relating this height to the distance between the ball and the ceiling, you would need to have the variable L somewhere in the equation you choose. Right?

 

[jorcrobe]

Right. y=0, which is the position where the ball is hanging, to the position where the ball is at a max height. One would assume that to create an equation relating this height to the distance between the ball and the ceiling, you would need to have the variable L somewhere in the equation you choose. Right?

Well, I used the first equation, and I am receiving a negative number.

Why is it that when I solved for h, it was a number greater than the maximum height, L?

I'm very sorry, I had never taken physics before this course.

 

[gneill]

Homework Statement

The Attempt at a Solution

I used conservation of momentum for the initial velocity of mass 2, and conservation of mechanical energy for the movement from rest to highest position, KE=PE.

The answer that I received is selected in the screenshot. However, when the calculations were completed, I received a value of 1.81m... Which is longer than the string. Does anyone spot my problem? Thank you.

When you say "The answer I received", do you mean that you were given this as a correct answer, or that it is the answer you obtained by working the problem? The reason that I ask is that to me the selected option doesn't appear to be a correct answer for the given problem.

If the change of elevation of the second ball, as computed from the "randomized variables" happens to be greater than the length of string, what can you conclude will happen? What will be the minimum separation of ceiling and ball?

 

[Ericv_91]

Unless I've made a terrible mistake in my calculations, it seems as though either the question gave you a wrong number for the length of the string, or somehow the ball will go above the height of the pendulum, even though there is a ceiling in the way.