1

Solutions to PC1431 Tutorial 3

1(a)

Refer to the diagram below,

By conservation of energy, taking the GPE of pendulum to be 0 at the reference line, we have
Einitial

mghi

Eafter hitting peg

1
mv 2 + mghf
2

If hi = 2 (L d), then the pendulum will reach hf = 2 (L d) at zero speed, so hi = hf . It will be

so when the pendulum is released at hi < 2 (L d).
Hence we have 2 situations: (i) pendulum reach hf at zero speed, or (ii) pendulum reach hf at
non-zero speed.
The conditions for situation (i) and (ii) will be hi < 2 (L d) and hi > 2 (L d) respectively.
If you released the pendulum below the peg, i.e. hi < L d < 2 (L d), then we have hi = hf .
(shown)
1(b)

By conservation of energy, just before the string hits the peg, the KE of the sphere is:
1
mv 2 = mgL
2 b

If the sphere were to swing a complete circle centered on the peg, radius, R = L d, then the change
in GPE is:
GP E = mg 2 (L d)

Since the sphere is making a vertical circular motion about the peg, at the top of the sphere, from
the FBD, we have:

T + mg =

mvt2
R

At the top position, the total energy of the pendulum is:

E=

1
mv 2 + mg2(L d)
2 t

By conservation of energy, we have E = mgL

1
mv 2 + mg2(L d)
2 t
2gL 4g(L d) = 4gd 2gL

mgL =
vt2

For minimum
T = 0, then

d,

vt will be minimum, so the centripetal force will be minimum, hence we require

mvt2
R
= gR = g (L d) = 4gd 2gL

mg

vt2

gL gd =
d =

2(a)

By work-energy theorem, energy lost due to friction is the decrease in the kinetic energy of the
particle.
WD by friction =

2(b)

1
1
1
mvi2 mvf2 = (0.400) 82 62 = 5.60 J
2
2
2

WD by friction = fk d = k mgd
k =

2(c)

4gd 2gL
3
L (shown)
5

KE
5.60
=
= 0.152
mgd
(0.4) (9.8) (2) (1.5)

We will need to nd total distance travelled by the particle.

fk D

k mgD

1
mv 2
2 i
1
mv 2
2 i
82
vi2
=
= 21.5 m
2k g
2 (0.152) (9.8)

The total number of revolutions is:

n=

D
21.5
=
= 2.29
2R
2 (1.5)

The collision happens at the bottom of the bowl when the 2 masses reach there. At the bottom of
the bowl, there is no external forces acting along the direction of motion of the particles, hence we
can apply conservation of linear momentum. Before that, we need to nd the speeds of the particle.
By conservation of energy, mgh = 21 mv 2 , we obtain
v=

p
2gh

The speeds of the particles are the same at the bottom of the bowl. Since they are moving at right
angles to each other just before the collision, the sketch for the situation is:

Based on the coordinates system, the total momentum of the system before the collision is:

p i = m1
u 1 + m2
u 2 = 2v i 6v j

By conservation of linear momentum, the total momentum of the system after the collision is:

p f = 2v i 6v j

Since the collision is completely inelastic, the masses will move up the bowl as one mass, M =

m1 + m2 , together. Dene the nal height reached as hf , by conservation of energy:

p2f
2M

= M ghf

hf

2
2
p2f
(2v) + (6v)
40 (2g) (12)
= 7.5 cm
=
=
2
2M 2 g
2M 2 g
2 (8) g

The sketch of the system is:

By conservation of linear momentum:

M vi

= m1 v1 + m2 v2

10(25)

3v1 + 7v2

3v1 + 7v2

250

(1)

By conservation of energy,
1
M vi2 + 1500
2
2
(10) (25) + 3000
3v12

7v22

1
1
m1 v12 + m2 v22
2
2
3v12 + 7v22

9250

From Eq. (1), we have v2 = 17 (250 3v1 ). Substitute into (2),

3v12 + 7

1
(250 3v1 )
7

2
=

9250

30v12 1500v1 2250

v12

50 75

v1

=
=

502 + (75)
2
51.5ms1 or 1.46ms1 (N.A.)
50

Since the lighter fragment moves horizontally forward after explosion, we have v1 = 51.5ms1
With that, we can nd v2 = 13.7ms1 from Eq. (1).

(2)

5.

By symmetry, xCM = 0. Based on the diagram,

To nd yCM , starting from the formula y = M1 y dm.

Length of the rod, L = R 2 .
Based on the diagram, choosing a point on the arc, dm = ds
Mass per unit length, =

M
2M
M
= =
L
R2
R

2M
Since it is a circular arc, we write ds = R d, then dm = ds = 2M
R R d = d
From the diagram, the y -coordinate of dm is y = R sin . The lower limit is = 4 , the upper limit
is = 3
4 .

yCM

=
=
=
=
=

The distance

1
M
2R

1
y dm =
M

3
4

R sin

2M
d

3
4

sin d

3
2R
[ cos ] 4
4


2R

3
cos cos

4
4

2 2R

from the center of the rod is:

x=R

2 2R
= 0.0997R = 0.0635L

Based on the diagram below:

From the free-body diagram,

mg cos n = m

v2
R

When the block loses contact, n = 0, so

mg cos
mgR cos
1
mv 2
2

v2
R
= mv 2
1
=
mgR cos
2
= m

By conservation of energy,
mgx =

1
mv 2
2

From the diagram, x = R R cos . Then, we have

mgx =
3
x
2

1
1
mgR cos = mg (R x)
2
2
1
R
2
R
3

The sketch of the situation is as below:

By conservation of linear momentum,

3mvii mvii =
2mvi i =



3mv1f cos i + sin j mv2f j
3mv1f cos i + (3mv1f sin mv2f ) j

Comparing components, we can obtain 2 equations:

2mvi = 3mv1f cos

mv2f = 3mv1f sin

v2f

3
v1f cos
2
= 3v1f sin

vi =

Since the collision is elastic, the kinetic energy of the system is conserved.
1
1
(3m) vi2 + mvi2
2
2
4vi2
2

3
v1f cos
4
2
9 cos2


9 cos2 sin2
cos 2

1
1
2
2
(3m) v1f
+ mv2f
2
2
2
2
3v1f
+ v2f

2
3v1f
+ (3v1f sin )

3 + 9 sin2

3
1
=
3
= 35.3