PROBLEM SET - FINALS

1. A particle of mass m = 5 kg is released

from point A and slides on a frictionless track
shown in the figure. Determine the particles
speed at points B and C.

2. Two objects are connected by a light string passing over a

light, frictionless pulley as shown. The object of mass 5 kg is
released from rest. Using energy method, (a) determine the
speed of the 3 kg object just as the 5 kg object hits the
ground. (b) Find the maximum height to which the 3 kg
object rises.

3. A 5 kg block is set into motion up the inclined plane with

an initial speed of 8 m/s. The block comes to rest after
traveling 3 m along the plane which is inclined at 30 o to the
horizontal. For this motion, determine the blocks (a) change
in kinetic energy, (b) change gravitational potential energy.
(c) What is the frictional force exerted on the block and (d)
the coefficient of kinetic friction?
4. A 10 kg block is released from point A. The track is frictionless except for the
portion between points B and C which has a
length of 6 m. The block travels down the
track, hits a spring of force constant k = 2
250 N/m, and compresses the spring 0.30 m
from its equilibrium position before coming to
rest momentarily. Determine the coefficient of
kinetic friction between the block and the rough surface between B and C.

5. A block of mass 5 kg is pushed against a horizontal spring of negligible mass until

the spring is compressed a distance x. the force
constant of the spring is 450 N/m. When it is
released, the block travels along a frictionless,
horizontal surface to point B, the bottom of the
vertical circular track of radius R = 1 m, and
continues to move along the track. The speed of the
block at the bottom is vB = 12 m/s, and the block
experiences an average friction force of 7 N while
sliding up the track. (a) What is x? (b) What speed
do you predict for the block at the top of the track? (c) Does the block actually reach
the top of the track, or does it fall off before reaching the top?
6. A pendulum, comprising a light string of length L and a small
sphere, swings in the vertical plane. The string hits a peg located a
distance d below the point of suspension. (a) Show that the sphere
is released from a height below that of the peg. (b) Show that if the
pendulum is released from the horizontal position ( = 90 o) and is
to swing in a complete circle centered on the peg, the minimum
value of d must be 3L/5.
7. Two blocks are free to slide along at the frictionless wooden track ABC as shown.
The block of mass m1 = 5 kg is released
from A. Protruding from its front end is the
north pole of a strong magnet, which is
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 collision.
8. A particle of mass 1.18 kg is attached
between two identical springs on a
horizontal, frictionless tabletop. Both
springs have spring constant k and are
initially unstressed. (a) The particle is
pulled a distance x along a direction
perpendicular to the initial configuration
of the springs as shown. Show that the
force exerted on the particle is

(b) Show that the potential energy of the system is

(c) Assume L = 1.2 m, k = 40 N/m. If the particle is pulled 0.50 m to the right and
then released, what is its speed when it reaches the equilibrium point x = 0?
9. A bullet of mass m = 50 g is fired into a block of mass M = 0.750 kg which is
initially at rest at the edge of a frictionless table of height h = 80 cm. The bullet

remains in the block, and after impact the block lands

a distance d = 1.80 m from the bottom of the table.
Determine the speed of the bullet.
10. A 5 g bullet moving with
an initial speed of 400 m/s is
fired into and passes through
block, initially at rest on a
is connected to a spring with k
5 cm to the right after impact.
the bullet emerges from the
energy converted into internal

a 1 kg block as shown. The

frictionless, horizontal surface,
= 900 N/m. The block moves
Find (a) the speed at which
block and (b) the mechanical
energy in the collision.

11. A solid sphere of mass m and radius r rolls without

slipping along the track as shown. It starts from rest with
the lowest point of the sphere at height h above the
bottom of the loop of radius R much larger than r. (a) What
is the minimum value of h (in terms of R) such that the
sphere completes the loop? (b) What are the components
of the net force on the sphere at the point if h = 3R?
12. A hungry bear weighing 700 N walks out on a beam in an
attempt to retrieve a basket of food hanging at the end of
the beam. The beam is uniform, weighs 200 N, and is 6 m
long. The basket weighs 80 N. (a) Draw a free body diagram
for the beam. (b) When the bear is at x = 1 m, find the
tension in the wire and the component of the force exerted
by the wall on the left end of the beam. (c) What if the wire
can withstand a maximum tension of 900 N, what is the
maximum distance the bear can walk before the wire
breaks?