Help with interesting problem about momentum

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves two equal masses, M, with a block of mass m positioned on top of the first mass at height H. Upon release, the first mass moves backward while the block slides onto the second mass, which then moves forward. The task is to determine the new height H' of the block in terms of m, M, H, and gravitational acceleration g. Conservation of energy and momentum principles are crucial for calculating the speeds of the block and the masses during the transitions. The solution requires a systematic approach to apply these conservation laws effectively.
newcool
Messages
42
Reaction score
0
Hi, my teacher gave this problem and he said that it has a very "pretty" answer.

You have two equal masses, each mass is called M that are touching each other.

There is a block with mass m on top of the first mass M. This block is a distance H above the ground. When the block is released the first mass will start moving backwards and the block will move onto the second mass M which will start moving fowards. I have to find the new distance H, that the block will go.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Attached is a diagram
 

Attachments

  • phyiscs.JPG
    phyiscs.JPG
    7 KB · Views: 487
Physics news on Phys.org
Forgot to say that there is no friction and H' has to be found in terms of m,M,H and g
 
Use the fact that energy and momentum are conserved to find the speed of the block and the ramp when the block is on the ground. Then do the same in reverse to find the height of the block on the second ramp.

--J
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top