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In the figure below, the pulley is a solid disk of mass M and radius R, with rotational inertia
M R2 /2. Two blocks, one of mass m1 and one of mass m2 , hang from either side of the pulley by
a light cord. Initially the system is at rest, with block one on the floor and block 2 held at height
h above the floor. Block 2 is then released and allowed to fall Give your answers in therms of m1 ,
m2 , M , R, h and g.
(a) What is the speed of block 2 just before it strikes the ground?
(d) How long does it take for block 2 to fall to the floor?
Solution:
1
Dackow/Rauch May 24, 2011
(a) Apply Conservation of Mechanical Energy, remembering to take into account the translational
kinetic energy of the falling block, rising block, and rotating pulley:
Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf (1)
1 1 1
0 + m2 gh = ( m1 v 2 + m2 v 2 + Iω 2 ) + m1 gh (2)
2 2 2
1 1 1 1 v2
= [ m1 v 2 + m2 v 2 + ( M R2 )( )] + m1 gh (3)
2 2 2 2 R
1 2 1
(m2 − m1 )gh = v (m1 + m2 + M ) (4)
2
s 2
2(m2 − m1 )gh
v = (5)
m1 + m2 + 12 M
∆s
∆t =
v̄
v
Where v̄ is the average velocity of the entire time of motion, or 2 and s is the distance travelled.
∆s
∆t = (1)
v̄
∆s
= v (2)
2
2h
= (3)
vs
m1 + m2 + 12 M
= 2h (4)
2(m2 − m1 )gh
s
2m1 + 2m2 + M
= h (5)
(m2 − m1 )gh
2 of 2