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Homework Statement
We have to make a roller coaster for our school project. This coaster starts with a spring. In this coaster, there is a collision. Essentially, I need to find the energy lost at the collision, and the average force of friction.
Homework Equations
Em1=Em2
W=Fd
F=ma
A=DELTA v/ DELTA t
The Attempt at a Solution
To find the energy lost, I set:
EM1-Wf=Em2
Em1-Wf=Em2
-Wf=Em2-Em1
-Fdcos180=0.5mv^2-0.5kx^2 (I sub. in the actual measured value of v in)
Is this the correct way to solve for the average force of friction? How do I account for the energy lost during the collision? Would it be included in my Wf? In that case, how would i find the energy lost during the collision?
My other idea for finding the force of friction, is to do a=v/t v= theoretical speed at the end-actual measured speed
Once I find the a value, I can sub it into my F=ma equation to find F. Would this be valid as well?
Thank you