Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 9 - Impulse and Momentum - Exercises and Problems - Page 242: 35

Answer

$v_{fx} =\dfrac{\sqrt{ 2Fd m_1} }{ m_1+m_2 }$

Work Step by Step

Since the surface is frictionless, we can say that the system's [the two clay blobs] momentum is conserved. The momentum of the system just before the first blob hits the second blob is given by $$p_{ix}=p_{ix,1}+p_{ix,2}=m_1v_{1x}+m_{2}\overbrace{v_{ix,2}}^{=0}$$ $$p_{ix}= m_1v_{1x} \tag 1$$ And the final momentum of the system, after the first blob hits and sticks with the second blob and moves as one unit, is given by $$p_{fx}=p_{fx,1}+p_{fx,2}=(m_1+m_2)v_{fx}$$ $$p_{fx}= (m_1+m_2)v_{fx}\tag 2$$ Since the momentum is conserved, so (1)= (2); $$m_1v_{1x} =(m_1+m_2)v_{fx}\tag 3$$ Now we need to find the velocity of the first blob just before it hits the stationary one. $$\sum F_x=F=m_{1}a_x$$ whereas $F$ is the constant pushing force. Thus, $$a_x=\dfrac{F}{m_1}\tag 4$$ Now we can use the kinematic formula of velocity squared. $$v_{1x}^2=\overbrace{v_{ix}^2}^{=0}+2a_x\Delta x$$ where $\Delta x=d$; $$v_{1x}^2= 2a_x d$$ Plugging from (4); $$v_{1x}^2= \dfrac{2F}{m_1} d$$ Thus, $$v_{1x} = \sqrt{ \dfrac{2Fd}{m_1} }$$ Plugging into (3); $$m_1\sqrt{ \dfrac{2Fd}{m_1} }=(m_1+m_2)v_{fx} $$ Hence, $$\boxed{v_{fx} =\dfrac{m_1}{(m_1+m_2)} \left(\sqrt{ \dfrac{2Fd}{m_1} }\right)}$$ $$v_{fx} =\dfrac{1}{(m_1+m_2)} \left(\sqrt{ \dfrac{2Fdm_1^{\color{red}{\bf\not} 2}}{\color{red}{\bf\not} m_1} }\right)$$ $$\boxed{v_{fx} =\dfrac{\sqrt{ 2Fd m_1} }{ m_1+m_2 }} $$
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