PHYSICS I

LESSON 4: SYSTEMS OF PARTICLES

1. One platform of 4m length and mass M = 100 kg is initially at rest on ice. There is no friction
between platform and ice. One boy of mass m = 50 kg is standing one the left edge of the
platform. If he begins to walk on the platform with a velocity of 2 m/s with respect to the
platform, calculate:
a) Velocities of platform and boy with respect to the ice
b) The time it takes the boy to reach the right edge

Solution: a) -0.67 m/s; 1.33 m/s b) 2 s

2. One ball bounces off until the 80% of its original height. Calculate the fraction of mechanical
energy lost in the ball bounce.

Solution: 1/5

3. The block A slips without friction until it collides with block B that is attached by a cord of length
L= 0.9 m (see figure). Knowing that mA = 1.25 kg, mB = 2 kg and the coefficient of restitution is e =
0.9, determine:

a) Velocities of A and B right after the collision

b) Maximum tension that the cord can hold
c) Maximum height that the block B can reach

Solution: a) vA= -0.58 m/s; vB= 2.51 m/s b) 33.6 N c) 0.32 m

4. In an experiment and ion of helium of mass m1= 4 u (units of atomic mass) with velocity 1200
m/s in the x axis, hits an oxygen molecule of mass m2= 32 u being at rest. As a result the ion of
helium moves up in the +y direction and with a fourth of its initial kinetic energy. Calculate:
a) Velocity of the oxygen molecule after the collision
b) Fraction of the total kinetic energy lost in the collision

Solution: a) 168 m/s b) 59%

5. In between two blocks of masses m1 = 21 g and m2 = 28 g there is a spring of force constant k =
1.2 N/cm. The blocks are at rest on a table with no friction. Two equal and opposite forces
compress the spring a length of 7 cm. If the forces stop acting on the spring, determine:
a) Velocity of each block when the spring recovers its natural length

Solution: a) v1= 4 m/s; v2= -3 m/s

6. The velocities of two balls of the same mass when they collide are shown
in the figure. If the 8.1% of the initial kinetic energy is lost in the collision,
determine the magnitude of the final velocities.

Solution: vA= 2.8 m/s; vB= 3.9 m/s

7. One bullet of mass mb= 25 g is shot in a horizontal direction with a velocity vb. The bullet goes
through the block A of mass mA= 1.5 kg and ends up inside the block B of mass mB= 4.5 kg. As a
result both blocks start to move with initial velocities of 2.4 and 1.8 m/s, respectively. Determine:
a) Initial velocity vb of the bullet
b) Velocity of the bullet on its path between the blocks A and B.
c) Percentage of kinetic energy lost in the process
Solution: a) vb= 469.8 m/s b) 325.8 m/s c) 99.58%

8. Three particles A, B, C, of masses mA = 2 kg, mB = 0.5 kg and mC = 1.5 kg are at rest placed initially
at the points A(3,0,0), B(0,2,0) and C(0,0,1), respectively. If the forces acting on them are 𝐹⃗𝐴 =
(0,2,4) N, 𝐹⃗𝐵 = (2, −2,0) N y 𝐹⃗𝐶 = (0,0,6) N, determine:
a) Position vector of the center of mass
b) Angular momentum of the system with respect to origin of the reference frame

1 1 1
⃗⃗ b) 𝐿
Solution: a) 𝑟⃗𝐶𝑀 (𝑡) = 4 (𝑡 2 + 6) 𝑖⃗ + 4 𝑗⃗ + 8 (10𝑡 2 + 3) 𝑘 ⃗⃗
⃗⃗𝑂 (𝑡) = −12𝑡 𝑗⃗ + 2𝑡 𝑘