Block A has a mass of 5 kg and is released from rest on a frictionless surface s

Question

Block A has a mass of 5 kg and is released from rest on a frictionless surface starting from a height of 2 m above the floor. Block B has a mass of 10 kg is at rest, suspended just above the floor by an ideal string of length L = 2.3 m. a.) Calculate the speed of Block A just before it hits block B. Blocks A and B stick together when they hit, b.) What is the speed of the combined blocks just after collision? c.) what is the maximum height that the combined blocks will reach after the collision? here's the picture of the problem = http://imgur.com/24Q1i How would I solve this without knowing the incline or distance between the two blocks?

Explanation / Answer

Use the law of conservation of mechanical energy (call A m and B m) :

p(i) = p(f0
mv(i ) + mv(i) = mv(f) + mv(f)

Initially the two blocks are at rest, so the left side of the equation is zero, and the remaining terms may be solved for v(f) :

v(f) = - mv(f) / m

Spring potential energy is given by :

PE(s) = 0.5kx²

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