Pulley system with collision etc....

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a pulley system involving multiple masses and the application of conservation laws and impulse-momentum principles. Participants are exploring the relationships between the velocities of the masses during a collision and the energy transformations involved in the system.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of using different systems for conservation of energy and momentum, specifically whether it is appropriate to treat ##m_3## separately for energy calculations and all three masses together for collision analysis.
  • Another participant suggests a different approach by focusing on the impulse and momentum of just ##m_2## and ##m_3##, proposing that the impulse on these masses is influenced by the tension from ##m_1## through the pulley system.
  • A participant mentions calculating energy loss during impact, indicating a specific energy conversion to waste heat and sound, but does not clarify how this relates to the earlier discussion.
  • There is a contention regarding the sign of the velocity relationship between ##v## and ##v_1##, with one participant asserting that if ##v = -2v_1##, it leads to an impossible negative impulse for the rope.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriate treatment of the system for energy and momentum calculations, indicating a lack of consensus on the correct approach. There are also conflicting interpretations regarding the sign conventions used in the velocity relationships.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not resolved the assumptions regarding the treatment of the system and the implications of their chosen sign conventions. The discussion remains open to further exploration of these concepts.

simphys
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Homework Statement
1. Two masses m1 and m2 are situated in a system with ideal pulleys as shown in the
figure. This system is in the vertical plane. A spring (constant k, rest length l0)
connects mass m1 with the ground.
Data: m1= 1.5 kg, m2 = 2 kg, m3= 1.5 kg, k = 50 N/m, ##l_0##= 0.4 m, h= 2 m.
a) The system is in rest at t = 0 s. Determine at that instance the tension in all
the ropes and the compression/extension of the spring.
b) Then, an extra mass m3 is dropped from a height h, hits mass m2 and sticks to
that mass. During this very short impact, the spring does not exert an impulse.
Determine the velocities of all the masses in the system right after the impact
and also the impulses exerted by the ropes.
c) How much energy was lost during the impact?
d) Determine the accelerations of all the masses right after the impact.
Relevant Equations
cons of energy, momentum, relative motion,....
Hello there, can I get some help with (b) please?
first of all I wanted to ask.. can is it permitted to use different systems in one exercises?
like f.e. for conservation of energy to find the velocity of ##m_3## I used as system only ##m_3## but for the collision I used the 3 masses as the system.

So what I need is one more equation which I can't find...
my work:

Conservation of energy (system = ##m_3##):
##0 = \frac12 * m_3 * v_3^2 - m_3 gh##
-> ##v_3 = \sqrt(2 * 9.81 * 2)## = ##6.264 \frac ms##

then for the collision: system = all 3 masses
## -m_3v_3 + J_T = -(m_2 + m_3)v' + m_1v'_1## impuls from gravity neglected and impuls from spring not accounted for as stated. Then getting another eq. from absolute dependent motion from the rope, we get:
##2s_1 + s' = l## with s' being the position from the fixed pulley to the combination of mass 2 and 3 and ##s_1## being the positoin for the pulley where ##m_1## is attached.
-> ##2v_1 + v' = 0 ## --> ##v' = -2v_1##

This gives me three equations.
Can someone give me a tip on the fourth one please? Thanks in advance.
edit: I was thinking about relative motion or conservation of energy after the collision, but can't see how it'll apply as I'll introduce new unkowns.

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I feel like you have one too many masses involved in the first step?

If we look at part of the system as just ##m_2## and ##m_3## Impulse/Momentum:

$$ \uparrow^+ J_T = - \left( m_2 + m_3 \right)v - \left( -m_3 v_3 \right) = m_3v_3 - \left( m_2 + m_3 \right)v $$

The impulse ##J_T## on ##m_2## and ##m_3## is caused by ##m_1## through the action of the pulley system ( the tension in the rope attached to ##m_2##).

I believe ##m_1## feels impulse ##2 J_T## acting on it.

$$ \uparrow^+ 2 J_T = m_1 v_1$$

What do you think?
 
Last edited:
Using that for (c) I get that the amount of energy converted to waste heat/sound etc... during the impact was ## 29.4 J - 11.4 J = 18 J##
 
erobz said:
Using that for (c) I get that the amount of energy converted to waste heat/sound etc... during the impact was ## 29.4 J - 11.4 J = 18 J##
Hey erobz, I had the same responses as you but only if I said that v = 2*v1. Because if v = -2*v1, then the impuls of the rope is negative and that's not possible for a rope.
 

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