(Typical Exercise Problems)

Chapter 2 & 3

Problem 2.29
The KEY
To apply Newtons Law in polar form all the
forces must be taken from an inertial frame
You MUST see the motion of the car from the
ground and NOT from the revolving platform
2

Problem 2.29 contd.

So conditioned,
1) Motion will NOT be radial but a curved one
on the revolving platform
2) As friction acts opposite the motion, it acts
in the direction of resultant of Fr and F
3

Contd.
2

a r = r r ; a = 2r + r

Get the initial conditions:

r = v0 = Const . r = 0
= = Const . = 0

Hence,

Fr = mr ; F = 2mv0
2

F = F + F = m r + 4m v
2
r

2
0

2
4

Contd.
Force is provided by friction having max. value mg

F mg At sliding , F = mg
m r + 4m v = m g
2

rslid =

Hence,

2
0

2 g 2 4 v02 2
rslid
; t slid =
4
v0

F = Fr r + F
= m 2 g 2 4 v02 2 r + 2mv0

Problem 3.7
A system is composed of two blocks of mass m1
and m2 connected by a spring of spring constant
k. The block slide on a frictionless plane and the
unstretched length of the spring is l. Initially m2
is held so that the spring is compressed to l/2 and
m1 is forced against a wall. m2is released at t=0.
Find the motion of CM.
6

Solution
m1

m2

/ 2

m2 is released at t = 0
Can you physically imagine the motion?
7

Proposition
m1

m2 is released at t = 0

m2

/ 2

1. m2 will execute SHM about x=l

m2

2. m1 will NOT move until m2 crosses l mark

At what t, this will happen??
8

Fixing Time Scale

m1

m2

/ 2

We need to look at the motion in two time domains:

1 ) t = 0 to t = T
2) t T
t =T

Case I

Case II

2 1
=
=
4 4 2

m2
k

Fixing CMs
m1

Case I

m2

/ 2

l
m1 at x1 = 0; m2 at x2 = l x2 = ( 2 cos t )
2

(measured from the wall)

m1 0 + m2 ( 2 cos t )
2

(
)
X t =
m1 + m2
m2l ( 2 cos t )
=
2( m1 + m2 )

0 t T

Note it is function of time

10

Fixing CMs
Case II
After this the block m1 will leave the wall and with no Fext
acting, CM will move with a constant vel. This vel, we get
from the vel of m2 at the instant m1 leaves the wall.
l
v2 = x2 = ( sin t ) t = T
4
2
k
l
=
sin
.
2
m2 2
l k
=
2 m

For t=T/4
m2

VCM

m2 v2
=
m1 + m2
m2l
=
2( m1 + m2 )

= VCM for ever (t >T/4)

11

CM after T/4
The position of the CM for instants t>T/4 is given by:
T
T
X ( t ) = X + VCM t
4
4
m2 l
m2 l T
=
+
t
m1 + m2 2( m1 + m2 ) 4
m2 l

=
2 + t
2( m1 + m2 )
2
12

Complete Motion
The complete motion of CM is:
m2l ( 2 cos t )
X (t) =
2( m1 + m2 )

X (t) =

m2l 2 + t
2( m1 + m2 )

for 0 t T

)2

for t > T

4
13

Problem 3.14
It deals with conservation of linear momentum:
1,2,3, 4.N
m
u

Pi = 0 ; Pf = Mv + Nm( v u )
Vel of men wrt ground

14

Problem 3.14 contd.

a) Let flat car attain a velocity v when all men jumped
out simultaneously
Conserving momentum,

Pi = 0 ; Pf = Mv + Nm( v u )

Nmu
V =
M + Nm
15

Problem 3.14 contd.

b) Let vi-1 and vi be the velocities of the flat car before and
after the ith. man jumps off and conserve momentum

[ M + ( N + 1 i ) m] vi 1 = [ M + ( N i ) m] vi + ( vi u ) m
mu
mu
vi = vi 1 +
vi =
M + ( N + 1 i) m
M + ( N + 1 i) m

= Final velocity

1
v = vi = mu
=v
i
i M + ( N + 1 i) m

16

Problem 3.14 contd.

c) The case b) yield larger final velocity
Have a look at the sum, term by term:
1
v = mu
i M + ( N + 1 i)m

First term:

1
m + Nm

And subsequent term gets larger

as denominator gets smaller

1
N
mu
> mu
i M + ( N + 1 i)m
M + Mm
17

Problem 3.18
dv
dm
Equation of motion: F = m u rel
= mg
dt
dt

KEY: Information about urel

As raindrop gains mass from cloud at rest, urel=-v
dv
dm
dv
mg = m + v
= m + kmv2
dt
dt
dt

dv
2
= g kv t v =
dt

g
= const .
k

18

dv
dm
F = m u rel
dt
dt

Problem 3.20
Equation of motion of the rocket:

dv
m um = mbv mg
dt
1
u g
bt
v = ( u g ) 1 e
t , v =
= const .
b
b

19