Inelastic collision of a projectile with a pendulum

In summary, the problem involves a 20 kg wood ball hanging from a 2.0 m long wire with a maximum tension of 400 N. A 1.0 kg projectile traveling horizontally hits and embeds itself in the wood ball. The task is to determine the largest speed the projectile can have without causing the wire to break. The equations used are the centrifugal force for the tension in the wire and conservation of energy for the speed. The main difficulty is dealing with the angle of the pendulum as it spins. To solve this, the y-axis in the direction of centrifugal force is considered and the sum of forces is set equal to ma, where a is the acceleration due to gravity. It is suggested to consider
  • #1
mjolnir80
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Homework Statement


a 20 kg wood ball hangs from a 2.0 m long wire. the maximum tension the wire can withstand without breaking is 400 n. a 1.0 kg projectile traveling horizontally hit and embeds itself in a the wood ball. what is the largest speed this projectile can have without causing the cable to break

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


im kind of stumped with this one
some help would really be appreaciated :)
 
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  • #2
hint - centrifugal force for the tension in the wire, conservation of energy for the speed
 
  • #3
im having problems dealing with the angle of the pendulum as it spins
if we have the y-axis in the direction of centrifugal force the sum of the forces would be:
ma = 400N - mgCos(angle)
could i consider the ball when its at a 90 degree angle to get rid of that thing
and at what point in the rotation would the maximum tension occur at anyways?
 

FAQ: Inelastic collision of a projectile with a pendulum

1. What is an inelastic collision?

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where the objects involved stick together after impact and kinetic energy is not conserved. This means that some of the energy is lost during the collision in the form of heat, sound, or deformation.

2. How does a projectile collide with a pendulum?

A projectile, such as a ball, is launched at a pendulum that is hanging from a fixed point. The projectile hits the pendulum, causing it to swing back and forth.

3. What factors affect the inelastic collision between a projectile and a pendulum?

The mass, velocity, and elasticity of the projectile and the pendulum all affect the inelastic collision. The angle of impact and the length of the pendulum can also play a role.

4. How is momentum conserved in an inelastic collision between a projectile and a pendulum?

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved even though kinetic energy is not. This means that the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

5. What are some real-world applications of inelastic collisions between projectiles and pendulums?

Inelastic collisions between projectiles and pendulums can be used in sports, such as billiards or bowling, to accurately predict the path and final position of the objects. They are also used in engineering and safety testing to study the effects of impact and collisions on different materials.

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