Homework 7

problems: 9.33, 9.40, 9.65, 9.78

Problem 9.33
A billiard ball moving at 5.0 m/s strikes a stationary ball of the same mass. After
the collision, the first ball moves at 4.33 m/s and an angle of 30.0 with respect to
the original line of motion. Assuming an elastic collision (and ignoring friction and
rotational motion), find the struck balls velocity after the collision.
y

This
problem
contains
too
much
information, which could lead to
contradictions!
In any collision the total momentum of the
system is conserved
mv1i + 0 = mv1f + mv 2f
1)
Hence

v 2f = v1i v1f = [5,0]

v1f

vi

v2f

m
m
m
4.33 [cos 30, sin 30] = [1.250,2.165]
s
s
s

(One could also express velocity in terms of its polar coordinates

v 2f = v 22fx + v 22fy =
v 2fy

= arctan
v 2fx

(1.250 ms )2 + (2.165 ms )2 = 2.50 m

2.165
= arctan
= 60

1
.
250

Note that we found the final velocity of the second ball regardless the
type of the collision. To verify that the solution is consistent with the
given information one should compare the initial and the final total
kinetic energy
mv12i
+0
m 2
2
(
)
5
.
0
K tot ,f
v
s
2
1i
=
=
=
= 1.0
K tot ,i mv12f mv 22f v12f + v 22 f (4.3 m )2 + (2.5 m )2
s
s
+
2
2
The collision is indeed elastic.

Problem 9.40
A rod of length 30 cm has linear density (mass per length) given by
= 50 + 20x
Where x is the distance from one end, measured in meters, and is in grams/meter.
(a) What is the mass of the rod? (b) How far from the x = 0 end is its center of
mass.
y
dx
x

cm

dm

a) Consistently with the figure and the given information, the mass of
the indicated fragment of the rod is
g
g

dm = dx = 50
+ 20 2 x dx
cm

cm
In order to find the total mass, the mass of all differential pieces must be
added. It requires integration of the above function in appropriate
limits.
0.3m
g
g
M = dm = 50 + 20 2 x dx =
m

c
rod
0m
0.3m

2
g
g
x
= 50 x + 20 2
= 15.9g
2
m
m

0m

The mass of the rod is 15.9 g.

b) Finding the x-component of the location of center of mass requires

also integration. Directly from the definition of center of mass

x cm

1 0.3m g
g

= 50 x + 20 2 x 2 dx =
M 0m m

m
1 g x 2
g x 3
= 50
+ 20 2
M m 2
m 3

0.3

= 15.3cm
0

Center of mass is 15.3 cm from the x = 0cm end.

Problem 9.38
(a) Consider an extended object whose difference portions have different
elevations. Assume the free-fall acceleration is uniform over the object. Prove that
the gravitational potential energy of the object-earth system is given by
Ug = Mgycm, where M is the total mass of the object and ycm is the elevation of its
center of mass above the chosen reference level. (b) Calculate the gravitational
potential energy associated with a ramp constructed on level ground with stone
with density 3,800 kg/m3 and everywhere 3.6 m wide. In a side view, the ramp
appears as right triangle with high 15.7 m at the top end and base 64.8 m.
y
dm

h
x

a) Gravitational potential energy of a differential fragment of an object

depends on the mass of the fragment and its elevation above the
reference level
dU g = dm g y
1)
where g is the acceleration due to gravity (free fall acceleration).
The total gravitational potential energy of the object requires
integration of the gravitational potential energy over the entire object.
2)
U g = dU g = dm gy dm = g y dm
object

object

object

From the definition of center of mass, the y-component of its position is

1
y cm =
3)
y dm
M object
Substituting the integral in equation (2)
4)
U g = dU g = dm gy dm = g M y cm = Mgy cm
object

object

b) Directly from the definition of center of mass, the y-component of

the ramps center of mass can be found
5)
y cm =

h
x
l l w

1
1
y dm =
y dzdydx =
1
M object
lh w 0 0 0
2
h
x
l l w

h
x
l l

2
2
2
w
ydz dydx =
yz 0 dydx =

lhw 0 0 0
lhw
lhw

0 0
0

l
x
h x3
h
2 l y2 l
1 l h2 2
dx = 2 x dx = 3
=
=
lh 0 2
lh 0 l
l 3 0 3
0

ywdy dx =

hx
ll

From part (a)

6)

1
h
U g = Mgy cm = lhw g =
2
3
kg 1
m
= 3800 3 64.8m 15.7 m 3.6m 9.8 2 15.7m = 3.57 108 J
m 2
s

(This much work must be done by the builders of the ramp.)

Problem 9.49
Sand from a stationary hopper falls onto a moving conveyor belt at the rate of
5 kg/s. The conveyer belt is supported by frictionless rollers. It moves at a constant
speed of 0.75 m/s under the action of a constant horizontal external force Fext
supplied by the motor that drives the belt. Find (a) the sands rate of change of
momentum in the horizontal direction, (b) the force of friction exerted by the belt
on the sand, (c) the external force Fext, and (d) the work done by Fext in 1 s, and
(e) the kinetic energy acquired by the falling sand each second due to the change in
its horizontal motion. (d) (f) Why are the answers to (d) and (e) different?

y
x

0.75 m/s

Fext

a) The mass of sand falling on the belt in time dt is

dm
1)
dm =
dt
dt
dm
where
is the given rate at which the sand fall of the conveyor belt.
dt
With a good approximation, we can assume that the initial momentum of
sand fallen on the belt in time dt has a zero value. Only the sand falling
on the belt changes its momentum changes its momentum in that time.
Since the change is in the along the belt (x-direction), we can limit
consideration to one component. The change in total momentum of the
sand is therefore
dm
2)
dPx = v x dm 0 dm = v x
dt
dt
where vx is the speed of the conveyor belt. Hence the rate of change in
the total momentum of the sand is
dPx
dm
m kg
3)
= vx
= 0.75 5 = 3.75 N
dt
dt
s
s

b) There are three forces exerted on the sand but only the frictional
force is not balanced. The net force is therefore equal to the frictional
force. Hence, from Newtons second law of motion (version 3), the
x-component of the (total) frictional force exerted on the sand is 3.75 N.
c) From Newtons third law of motion, the sand exerts an opposite,
frictional force with the x-component of -3.75 N. According to Newtons
second law of motion, the net force exerted on the conveyor belt is zero,
which requires that the motor exert a force with the x-component of
3.75 N.
d) One can find the work directly from its definition recognizing that the
force exerted on the belt by the motor is constant
m
W = Fext , x dx = Fext , x v x t = 3.75N 0.75 1s = 2.81J
4)
s
path
e) The rate of change in the total kinetic energy of the sand can be found
directly from the definition
2
dK tot dm v 2x 0 2 1 dm 2 1 kg
m
J
4)
=
=
v x = 5 0.75 = 1.41
dt
dt
2 dt
2
s
s
s
Since the above rate is time independent, the change in kinetic energy of
the sand is
dK tot
J
5)
K tot =
t = 1.41 1s = 1.41J
s
dt

f) Change in the total kinetic energy of a system is related to work done

by both external and internal interaction. As the sand falls on the
conveyor belt, kinetic frictional forces are exerted by the belt on the
sand and by the sand on the belt. Until the sand acquires the same
velocity as the belt (inelastic collision), the distance traveled by the belt
is greater than the distance travelled by the sand. Therefore, the internal
work is negative. From the (fourth version) of the work-energy theorem
we may conclude that the internal work is
6)
Wint = K tot Wext = 1.41J 2.81J = 1.40J

Problem 9.57
An 8 g bullet is fired into a 2.5 kg block that is initially at rest at the edge of a
frictionless table of height 1 m (Fig. P.58). The bullet remains in the block, and
after impact the block lands 2 m from the bottom of the table. Determine the initial
speed of the bullet.
y
m=

r0 = [ 0m, 0m ]
v0

vi
M=

x
g

r1 = [ 2m, -1m ]

In the process the bullet first collides with the block, then the entire
system moves with a constant acceleration (free fall). Suggested
coordinate system is convenient for consideration both processes.
Considering both objects, the bullet and the block, as the particles
one can relate the velocity v0 of the system after the collision with the
initial velocity vi of the bullet. The momentum conservation law requires
that
1) mv i + 0 = (m + M )v 0
from which
In the free fall motion the position of the particle is a quadratic
function of time. Consistent with the marked coordinate system
gt 2
2) r(t ) = v 0 t +
2
The rest is math. From the given vertical component bullet-block
system one can determine the time t1 of the fall.
2 y1
2 (1m)
3) t1 =
=
= 0.45s
g
9.81 m2
s

and the required initial velocity of the system

gt12
r1
2 = [x1, y1 ] [0, y1 ] = 2m ,0 m = 4.43 m ,0 m
4) v 0 =
0.45s s
ti
t1
s s

Substitution in the first equation leads to

5) v i =

(m + M ) v
m

0.008kg + 2.5kg
m m
4.43 ,0
0.008kg
s s

from which the answer is

6) vi = v i = 4.43

m
s