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Saitama
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Homework Statement
Two bars connected by a weightless spring of stiffness ##k## and length (in the non-deformed state) ##\ell_o## rest on a horizontal plane. A constant horizontal force ##F## starts acting on one of the bars as shown in the figure. Find the maximum and minimum distance between the bars during the subsequent motion of the system, if the masses of the bars are:
(a)equal
(b)equal to ##m_1## and ##m_2## and the force ##F## is applied to the bar of mass ##m_2##.
Answers:
a)##l_{max}=l_o+F/k## and ##l_{min}=l_o##
b)##l_{max}=l_0+2m_1F/(k(m_1+m_2))## and ##l_{min}=l_o##
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Case a):
From energy conservation,
[tex]Fx=\frac{1}{2}kx^2+\frac{1}{2}mv_1^2+\frac{1}{2}mv_2^2[/tex]
where ##x## is the extension of the spring, ##m## is the mass of the blocks, ##v_1## and ##v_2## are the velocities of the blocks.
I still need one more equation to relate ##v_1## and ##v_2##.
Thanks!
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