Find the impulse exerted on the wedge by the ground during impact

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
2 replies · 2K views
baldbrain
Messages
236
Reaction score
21
Homework Statement
This is a lengthy question with many sub-parts but I have a doubt about just one of them.
A ball of mass 1 kg falling vertically downwards with a velocity of 2 m/s strikes a wedge of mass 2 kg kept on a smooth horizontal surface. The given figure shows the motion of the ball during impact. Find the impulse on the wedge from the ground during impact.
Relevant Equations
None
15608384772188975631598041741577.jpg

Now, the net vertical impulse on the wedge should be zero. It's quite obvious from the figure that the ground will also exert an impulse of ##J cos 30°## on the wedge. But they've given the answer as ##J sin 30°##.
They're wrong, right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
baldbrain said:
But they've given the answer as ##J sin 30°##.
They're wrong, right?
Yes, it’s the cos, but everything in the image you posted looks right. Where do they say it is sin?
 
haruspex said:
Yes, it’s the cos, but everything in the image you posted looks right. Where do they say it is sin?
At the end of the problem (not in this image). As I said, it has many sub-parts.
Thanks for the clarification.