- #1
Lanza52
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Homework Statement
http://faculty.mint.ua.edu/~pleclair/ph125/Misc/PH105_exam2_1Nov_soln.pdf
Similar to question two on this site. Except I'm looking for the velocity as the ball crosses the origin.
Homework Equations
Listed in the question.
The Attempt at a Solution
I got the answer, I'm just stumbling on the reasoning.
The answer says to add the potential energy of the two springs together and that they are the same. So U1+U2=2U1. So solving for velocity is a matter of 1/2 m v^2 = 2U1
However, if you were to break the components of the force into vector form, you would have the y components opposing each other. So the velocity would only be increased by the horizontal component of the force.
Adding the two potential energy sums in such a manner together would be if they were pulling the same direction, would it not?
The energy from the two stretched strings would partially go into the mass but not all of it being that the forces are opposing so that the mass stays at a neutral y position.