Block moving down circle, a straight path, then into a spring

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a block moving along a track that includes a circular section, a horizontal span with friction, and a spring. The block is released from rest and undergoes various energy transformations as it moves through these sections.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss energy transformations occurring in different sections of the track, including potential energy converting to kinetic energy and the effects of friction on kinetic energy.

Discussion Status

Some participants are attempting to clarify their understanding of the energy transformations involved, while others are questioning the assumptions made about the energy changes throughout the motion of the block.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about how to start solving the problem and the implications of the energy transformations, indicating a need for further exploration of the concepts involved.

bfusco
Messages
126
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


Consider the track shown in the figure. The section AB is one quadrant of a circle of radius 2.0 and is frictionless. B to C is a horizontal span 3.5 long with a coefficient of kinetic friction = 0.27. The section CD under the spring is frictionless. A block of mass 1.0 is released from rest at A. After sliding on the track, it compresses the spring by 0.35 .
A)calculate the velocity at point B.
B)Determine the thermal energy produced as the block slides from B to C.
C)calculate the velocity at point C.
D)determine the stiffness constant k for the spring.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


A) i am having a hard time starting this question. for part A, i draw the free body diagram at the the top of the diagram (the side of the circle), i have the Normal force facing the center of the circle and the weight facing down. with that said i don't understand how to begin ƩF=mv^2/r equation in order to calculate the velocity.

 
Physics news on Phys.org
bfusco said:

Homework Statement


Consider the track shown in the figure. The section AB is one quadrant of a circle of radius 2.0 and is frictionless. B to C is a horizontal span 3.5 long with a coefficient of kinetic friction = 0.27. The section CD under the spring is frictionless. A block of mass 1.0 is released from rest at A. After sliding on the track, it compresses the spring by 0.35 .
A)calculate the velocity at point B.
B)Determine the thermal energy produced as the block slides from B to C.
C)calculate the velocity at point C.
D)determine the stiffness constant k for the spring.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


A) i am having a hard time starting this question. for part A, i draw the free body diagram at the the top of the diagram (the side of the circle), i have the Normal force facing the center of the circle and the weight facing down. with that said i don't understand how to begin ƩF=mv^2/r equation in order to calculate the velocity.

OK try these clarifying questions.

What energy transformation(s) occur in the A - B section?

What energy transformation(s) take place in the B - C section?

What energy transfer takes place after C?
 
PeterO said:
OK try these clarifying questions.

What energy transformation(s) occur in the A - B section?

What energy transformation(s) take place in the B - C section?

What energy transfer takes place after C?

from A - B the potential energy would go from its greatest value to 0, all that energy would become kinetic energy.

from B - C, the kinetic energy would decrease due to work done by friction.

after C, the object would hit the spring creating elastic potential energy.

Sorry about the lack of clarity, was in a rush when i posted and I am new at communicating over forums.
 
bfusco said:
from A - B the potential energy would go from its greatest value to 0, all that energy would become kinetic energy.

from B - C, the kinetic energy would decrease due to work done by friction.

after C, the object would hit the spring creating elastic potential energy.

Sorry about the lack of clarity, was in a rush when i posted and I am new at communicating over forums.

NO NO NO

The question was perfectly clear to me - and if you understand what you have just written, then you should be able to solve the problem
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K