Momentum of spring between two objects

  • Thread starter Thread starter moonbase
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Momentum Spring
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a massless spring placed between two carts on a frictionless surface, where the spring is compressed and then releases, pushing the carts apart. The subject area includes concepts of potential energy, kinetic energy, and momentum conservation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the potential energy stored in the spring and relate it to the kinetic energy of the carts after release. They express confusion over the correctness of their calculations and seek clarification on potential errors.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide feedback on the calculations, indicating that there may be errors. The original poster is actively seeking to identify where their reasoning may have gone wrong, and there is an acknowledgment of a misunderstanding regarding the combination of momentum and kinetic energy equations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes the assumption of conservation of energy and momentum in a frictionless environment, but specific details about the calculations and interpretations are being questioned.

moonbase
Messages
21
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A massless spring of spring constant 20 N/m is placed between two carts on a frictionless surface. Cart 1 has a mass M1 = 5 kg and Cart 2 has a mass M2 = 2.5 kg. The carts are pushed toward one another until the spring is compressed a distance 1.2 m. The carts are then released and the spring pushes them apart. After the carts are free of the spring, what are their speeds?

Homework Equations


PEspring=0.5kx2
KE=0.5mv2=p2/2m
p=mv

The Attempt at a Solution


I plugged in the given values to find that the potential energy of the spring is 14.4 J. Since there is no friction, the energy is conserved and the resulting kinetic energy should be the same value, and plugging it into the equation in terms of momentum results in p=14.69 since momentum is also conserved. So when I plug that into p=mv, I get v1=2.94 and v2=5.88 but apparently these are incorrect. Am I skipping a step?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your calculations are not correct. check it
 
Well I'm trying to figure out where exactly I went wrong. What I did so far:

0.5*20*1.22=14.4 J

p2/2(7.5)=14.4 -> p2=216 -> p=14.69

v=p/m -> 14.69/5=2.94 m/s and 14.69/2.5=5.88 m/s

Any ideas?
 
moon,

K=\frac{p^2}{2m_1}+\frac{p^2}{2m_2}
 
Oh okay, I was combining them but I see now. Thank you!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
8K
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K