# Energy and Linear Momentum

1. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Consider the situation shown in the picture below. Cart A has a mass of 30kg and rests on a horizontal track with negligible friction. A 20kg mass (B) is suspended from a cable of length 2m from a connection point on cart A. Mass B is raised with the cable kept taught through an angle Ѳ=35° and then released.

1. In what direction is the system isolated from external forces?
2. What is the initial Linear momentum of the system?
3. Draw a diagram to show the final state of the system, and write an equation for the final momentum of the system.
4. Perform an energy analysis to determine the relationship between the given parameters and the unknown variables.
5. Find the velocity of the cart and mass(B) relative to the stationary track when the cable is vertical while mass B is swinging.
6. What is the normal force on the cart when the cable is vertical while mass B is swinging?
2. Relevant equations
Ei+Ef since its an isolated system. KE=.5mv^2, GPE=mgh, L(momentum)=mv
Diagram attached.
3. The attempt at a solution
I need a nudge in the right direction. I am practicing for my final exam and have had difficulty with this concept throughout the semester. Any help is very appreciated.

File size:
31 KB
Views:
52
File size:
31 KB
Views:
49
2. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

You mean Ei=Ef, right? But it is not true that the cart+mass form a completely isolated system. They're not hanging about in empty space.

3. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

yeah i meant Ei=Ef, and i meant its isolated about the x-axis. As for the y-axis there is gravity

4. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

So far I have this. Am I on the right track?

File size:
42.5 KB
Views:
47
File size:
34.3 KB
Views:
47
5. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

Yes, those two answers are correct.
If the friction is to be ignored then this question doesn't make sense. There is no final state. However, you can say something about the momentum of the system at any arbitrary later time.
You need to make some reasonable guess of what is meant here by the unknown variables.
Try this one. What physical laws do you think may be relevant?

6. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

I finished the rest. I just went with my gut and would really appreciate someone reviewing my work. Thank you again.

File size:
23.7 KB
Views:
58
File size:
24.6 KB
Views:
54
File size:
37 KB
Views:
52
File size:
41.6 KB
Views:
51
7. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

The pictures were accidentally put in reverse order, so the bottom right corner is questions #3 and the top left picture is questions #6

8. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

Please don't post images of handwritten working. It makes more work for those trying to give you answers. Pls post as typed text in the post, preferably using latex.
In Q4, eqn 3, why the 'i' suffixes?
In your expression for T, you've forgotten something.
Two of your images came out sideways. I have not read them.

9. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

I'm sorry about that. I'm not familiar with latex yet. I was confused about initial and final values of L. Does T=mb*Vb2/2 + mbg?

10. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

Yes, but it makes things clearer if you keep all data items in symbolic form, only plugging in numbers at the end. E.g. it would be better to write T=mb*Vb2/L + mbg (having defined L).

11. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

I see. I am also having a bit of trouble with isolating Vb and VA. Would the GPE=KE+L?

12. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

Sorry, I've confused things by using L for length of rope when you were already using L for momentum. Let me change that to T=mb*Vb2/D + mbg.
Where L is momentum? No, you can't mix energy and momentum like that. What does the conservation law say?

13. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

My first thought was: Initially there is only GPE, b/c initial velocity is 0. Once the object is in motion, (the reference point in the y direction, being where theta=0, when hb=2) that there would be two forms of energy, both GPE and KE. I thought GPEi=KE + GPE, but I couldn't figure out how to isolate VA or Vb, so i eliminated that option. I was then confused as threw in momentum.

14. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

Stick with that.
There are two facts you need to bring in:
- conservation of horizontal momentum (or, equivalently here, of horizontal mass centre)
- constancy of length of rope
When the rope is at angle $\phi$ to the vertical, where are the cart and suspended mass along the x co-ordinate from the common mass centre?

15. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

I am still confused. I don't know how to answer that question.

16. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

Can I view the masses as one so that instead of having M*V+M*V=L, I have V(M+M)=L? Don't mind the lack of subscripts.

17. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

No, they're moving at different horizontal speeds.
When the cart is distance x to the right of the common mass centre, how far is the suspended mass to the left? Knowing the length of the rope, how do those distances relate to the angle of the rope?

18. Dec 9, 2014

### ericoromero

The angle would be equal to the arcsin of 2(length of the rope)/x(the distance of the cart from the common mass centre.

19. Dec 9, 2014

### haruspex

No, a couple of things wrong there. If the cart is distance x to the right of the c.o.m., how far is the mass to the left? What total distance is that?

20. Dec 10, 2014

### ericoromero

The mass would be 2(1-cos(theta)) away.?
since MB*VB+MA*VA=0, I manipulated that equation to be, 2(VB-VA)=3VA. I made VA negative b/c its moving away from the origin, then I input the masses. And since the mass is attached to the cart, I used VB-VA, instead of only VB