A block of mass M rests on a frictionless horizontal table at a distance of from a fixed pin . The block is attached to the pin by an elastic cord of a force constant K and undeformed length .
If the block is set in motion perpendicularly, find the radius of curvature in cm when the block is at 1.2 m
Component of velocity along the string vanishes when length is 1.2m Details and assumptions :
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This problem is solved through conservation of energy and angular momentum. By conservation of angular momentum, v i r i = v f r f , so v f = r f r i v i = 3 1 v i .
Since the force comes from an elastic cord, there is no potential energy until it is stretched out to 0.9 m, at which point the cord starts stretching, and the potential energy is U = 2 1 k ( r − 0 . 9 ) 2 .
By conservation of energy,
2 1 m v i 2 = 2 1 m v f 2 − 2 1 k ( r f − 0 . 9 ) 2
Plugging in values and some algebra gives v f = 2 3 s m .
To find the radius of curvature r c at that point, pretend that the object is moving in a circle with speed v f and has a constant acceleration inward of m F = − m ( r f − 0 . 9 ) k .
r c v f 2 = m ( r f − 0 . 9 ) k
r c = k v f 2 m ( r f − 0 . 9 )
Plugging in values gives r c = 3 . 7 5 cm .