- #1
sr-candy
- 15
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Homework Statement
A light inelastic string passes round two small smooth pulleys A and B in the same horizontal line at a distance 2a apart, and carries masses m1 at each end and a mass m2(<2m1) at its middle point. The system is released from rest with m2 at the middle point of AB
By applying the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, show that the system comes to instantaneous at rest when m2 has fallen a distance, d = (4am1m2)/(4m1^2-m2^2)
There is an original version of the question attached, check it if you can't understand what i am tring to express
Homework Equations
by consevation of energy, initial potential energy=final potential energy
The Attempt at a Solution
what i am thinking is that the distance fallen, ie. PE loss of m2 is gain and of PE of 2m1
and since both at the initial and final postion , the system is at rest so the
initial KE = Final KE = 0
But i just can't come up with the expression given by the question