Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

\"Relative\" is an important word. In the figure below, block L of mass m L = 2.

ID: 2244287 • Letter: #

Question

"Relative" is an important word. In the figure below, block L of mass mL = 2.00 kg and blockR of mass mR = 0.500 kg are held in place with a compressed spring between them. When the blocks are released, the spring sends them sliding across a frictionless floor. (The spring has negligible mass and falls to the floor after the blocks leave it.)

"Relative" is an important word. In the figure below, block L of mass mL = 2.00 kg and blockR of mass mR = 0.500 kg are held in place with a compressed spring between them. When the blocks are released, the spring sends them sliding across a frictionless floor. (The spring has negligible mass and falls to the floor after the blocks leave it.) If the spring gives block L a release speed of 1.40 m/s relative to the floor, how far does block R travel in the next 0.800 s? If, instead, the spring gives block L a release speed of 1.40 m/s relative to the velocity that the spring gives blockR, how far does block R travel in the next 0.800 s?

Explanation / Answer

using conservation of momentum we can find velocity of block R as (ml)*(vl)/(mr)

vr=1.4*2/0.5

vr = 5.6 m/s

distance travelled by block R in 0.8 s = 5.6*8 = 44.8 m-------------------------------(a)



=======================================================================



let x be the velocity of block R in the opp dirn

given relative velocity of block L = 1.4 m/s

therefore actual velocity of block L = 1.4-x

again using conservation of momentum we have ml*vl = mr*vr

(1.4-x)*2 = x*0.5

2.8 = 2.5x

x= 1.12 m/s

distance travelled in 0.8 s = 1.12*0.8= 0.896 m