Max Height of m1 After Elastic Collision on Frictionless Track

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two blocks on a frictionless track, where one block (m1) is released from a height and interacts with another block (m2) through magnetic repulsion. The goal is to determine the maximum height reached by m1 after an elastic collision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants suggest using conservation of energy and momentum to analyze the collision. Others express uncertainty about the completeness of the problem, questioning whether a diagram is necessary and if any information is missing.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring various interpretations of the problem setup, including the nature of the track and the implications of the magnetic interaction. Participants are considering the relevance of conservation laws in the context of the given information.

Contextual Notes

There is a suggestion that additional information or a diagram may be needed to fully understand the problem, indicating potential gaps in the provided details.

chevyboy86
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Two blocks are free to slide along a frictionless wooden track. A block of mass m1=5 kg is released from point A. Protruding from its front end is the north pole of a strong magnet, repelling the north pole of an identical magnet embedded in the back end of the block of mass m2=10 kg, initially at rest. The two blocks never touch. Calculate the maximum height to which m1 rises after the elastic collsion.

m1 is initially at a height of 5 meters. I don't know what equation to use for this problem.
 
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Assume convservation of energy.

Balance momentum before and after impact.
Balance kinetic energy before and after impact.
 
There must be some sort of diagram that goes with this? I believe there is information missing here.

Edit: Though I guess if you work to make the problem meaningful, conservation of energy will make most other information unnecessary.
 
Yeh, I would figure that it is a (vertically) circular track, since m1 has a height and the question asks for a final height.
 

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