111Equation Chapter 1 Section 1190 - 08-05 - conservation of mechanical energy 9-37: in which we solve

problems 8.9-8.37.

•• Chapter 8, problem 18 (|| 8.23, 8.27): (a) In Problem 7, what is the speed of the ball at the lowest point? (b)
Does the speed increase, decrease, or remain the same if the mass is increased? Solution: We use Eq. 8-18,
representing the conservation of mechanical energy. The reference position for computing U is the lowest point
of the swing; it is also regarded as the “final” position in our calculations.

(a) The potential energy is U = mgL(1 – cos ) at the position shown in Fig. 8-32 (which we consider to be the
initial position). Thus, we have
Ki  U i  K f  U f
1 2
0  mgL(1  cos )  mv  0
2
which leads to
2mgL(1  cos )
v  2 gL(1  cos ).
m

Plugging in L = 2.00 m and  = 30.0° we find v = 2.29 m/s.

(b) It is evident that the result for v does not depend on mass. Thus, a different mass for the ball must not
change the result.

•• Chapter 8, problem 21 (|| 8.23, 8.27): Figure 8-32 shows a pendulum of length L = 1.25 m. Its bob (which
 
effectively has all the mass) has speed v0 when the cord makes an angle 0 40.0° with the vertical. (a) What
is the speed of the bob when it is in its lowest position if v0 = 8.00 m/s? What is the least value that v0 can have
if the pendulum is to swing down and then up (b) to a horizontal position, and (c) to a vertical position with the

cord remaining straight? (d) Do the answers to (b) and (c) increase, decrease, or remain the same if 0 is

increased by a few degrees? Solution: We use Eq. 8-18, representing the conservation of mechanical energy
(which neglects friction and other dissipative effects). The reference position for computing U (and height h) is
the lowest point of the swing; it is also regarded as the “final” position in our calculations.

(a) Careful examination of the figure leads to the trigonometric relation h = L – L cos  when the angle is
measured from vertical as shown. Thus, the gravitational potential energy is U = mgL(1 – cos 0) at the position
shown in Fig. 8-32 (the initial position). Thus, we have
K0  U 0  K f  U f
1 2
2
b 1
g
mv0  mgL 1  cos 0  mv 2  0
2
which leads to
2 1 2 
v  mv0  mgL(1  cos  0 )   v02  2 gL(1  cos  0 )
m 2 
 (8.00 m/s) 2  2(9.80 m/s 2 )(1.25 m)(1  cos 40)  8.35 m/s.
(b) We look for the initial speed required to barely reach the horizontal position — described by vh = 0 and  =
90° (or  = –90°, if one prefers, but since cos(–) = cos , the sign of the angle is not a concern).
K 0  U 0  Kh  U h
1 2
2
b g
mv0  mgL 1  cos 0  0  mgL

which yields
v0  2 gL cos  0  2(9.80 m/s 2 )(1.25 m) cos 40  4.33 m/s.

(c) For the cord to remain straight, then the centripetal force (at the top) must be (at least) equal to gravitational
force:
mvt2
 mg  mvt2  mgL
r

where we recognize that r = L. We plug this into the expression for the kinetic energy (at the top, where  =
180°).
K 0  U 0  Kt  U t
1 2
2
b 1
g b
mv0  mgL 1  cos 0  mvt2  mg 1  cos180
2
g
1 2
2
b 1
g
mv0  mgL 1  cos 0  (mgL)  mg (2 L)
2
which leads to
v0  gL(3  2 cos  0 )  (9.80 m/s 2 )(1.25 m)(3  2 cos 40)  7.45 m/s.

(d) The more initial potential energy there is, the less initial kinetic energy there needs to be, in order to reach
the positions described in parts (b) and (c). Increasing 0 amounts to increasing U0, so we see that a greater
value of 0 leads to smaller results for v0 in parts (b) and (c).
•• chapter 8, problem 23 (9th ed) •• chapter 8, problem 23 (10th ed): The string in Fig. 8-36 is L = 120 cm
long, has a ball attached to one end, and is fixed at its other end. The distance d from the fixed end to a fixed
peg at point P is d = 75.0 cm. When the initially-stationary ball is released with the string horizontal as shown,
it will swing along the dashed arc. What is its speed when it reaches (a) its lowest point and (b) its highest point
after the string catches on the peg?

Solution: (a) As the string reaches its lowest point, its original potential energy U = mgL (measured relative to
the lowest point) is converted into kinetic energy. Thus,
E  U  K  mgL  12 mv 2 
solve for v
 v  2 gL  2(9.80 sm2 )(1.20m)  4.85 ms ;
212\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

The mass of the ball is not needed, so what we were really working with was kinetic and potential energy per
unit mass.

2
(b) In this case, the total mechanical energy is shared between kinetic 2 mvb and potential mgyb. We note that yb
1

= 2r where r = L – d = 0.450 m. Energy conservation leads to,

E  U  K   mgL  mgyb  12 mvb 2  mg 2r  12 mvb 2  2mg ( L  d )  12 mvb 2
solve for v
  vb  2 gL  4 g ( L  d )  2 g 2d  L  2(9.81 sm2 ) 2(0.750m)  (1.20m)  2.42 ms ;
313\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

•• chapter 8, problem 24 (9th ed.) •• chapter 8, problem 24 (10th ed.): A block of mass m = 2.0 kg is dropped
from height h = 40 cm onto a spring of spring constant k = 1960 N/m (picture on left). Find the maximum

distance the spring is compressed.

Let down be positive, and let y  0 be the fully-compressed spring-length, implying that the block is dropped
from yi  h  x . The block is of mass m , dropped from h above the spring’s relaxed length, and the spring is
subsequently compressed a (positive) displacement x . Consequently, the block drops a total (positive) distance
h  x . Conservation of energy, Ei  E f , yields,
Ei  E f  K i  U i  K f  U f  U i  U f  mg  h  x    12 k  x f 2  xi 2    12 kx 2
  mg  h  x   12 kx 2  0  12  2    1  0;   kh / (mg );   x / h;
2
write in the form Ax  Bx  C  0 to use quadratic formula

414\* MERGEFORMAT (.)

We note that the quantities  ,  are dimensionless; we demonstrate this,

kh (1960 Nm )(0.40m) x x  ratio of two lengths;
   39.96;     ;
mg (2.0kg )(9.81 s 2 )
m
h 0.40m dimensionless  515\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

This helps clean up the notation a bit. Using the quadratic formula, Error: Reference source not found implies,
  1  (1) 2  4( 12  )(1) 1  1  2 +-root 1  1  2
  
2( 12  )  
1  1  2(39.96) x
  0.2501   x  0.1001m ;
39.96 0.40m 616\* MERGEFORMAT
(.)

Just to show you that you get the same answer,

(19.6 N )  (19.6 N ) 2  2(19.6 N )(0.40m)(1960 Nm )
x  0.10m ;
1960 Nm 717\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

•• chapter 8, problem 27 (|| 8.7, 8.18, 8.21):
Tarzan, who weighs 688 N, swings from a cliff at
the end of a vine 18 m long (Fig. 8-38). From the
top of the cliff to the bottom of the swing, he
descends by 3.2 m. The vine will break if the force
on it exceeds 950 N. (a) Does the vine break? (b) If
no, what is the greatest force on it during the
swing? If yes, at what angle with the vertical does it
break?
Solution: (a) The maximum tension occurs at the lowest point in the swing. Choosing upward positive, and

computing the velocity using

K  U  12 mv 2  mgh , Newton's second law leads to,
 v 2  v  2 gh  2 gh   3.20m 
 F  ma  0  T  mg  Fr 
solve for T
 T  m  g 
r 
  m g 
 r 
   688N  1  2

  933 N
18.0m 

818\* MERGEFORMAT (.)

Thus, the vine does not break. (b) Rounding to an appropriate number of significant figures, we see the
maximum tension is roughly 9.3  102 N.

•• chapter 8, problem 29 (|| 8.30): In Fig. 8-40, a block of mass m = 12 kg is re-leased from rest on a
frictionless incline of angle 30°. Below the block is a spring that can be compressed 2.0 cm by a force of 270 N.
The block momentarily stops when it compresses the spring by 5.5 cm. (a) How far does the block move down
the incline from its rest position to this stopping point? (b) What is the speed of the block just as it touches the
spring?
Solution: We refer to its starting point as A, the point where it first comes into contact with the spring as B, and

the point where the spring is compressed 0

x  0.055 m
as C, as shown in the figure below. Point C is our
reference point for computing gravitational potential energy. Elastic potential energy (of the spring) is zero
when the spring is relaxed.

Information given in the second sentence allows us to compute the spring constant. From Hooke's law, we find
F 270 N
k   1.35  104 N m .
x 0.02 m

l
The distance between points A and B is 0 and we note that the total sliding distance
l0  x0 is related to the
initial height hA of the block (measured relative to C) by

hA
sin  
l0  x0
where the incline angle  is 30°.

(a) Mechanical energy conservation leads to

1
K A  U A  K C  U C  0  mghA  kx02
2
which yields
kx02 (1.35  104 N/m)(0.055 m) 2
hA    0.174 m
2mg 2(12 kg)(9.8 m/s 2 ) .

Therefore, the total distance traveled by the block before coming to a stop is

hA 0.174 m
l0  x0    0.347 m  0.35 m
sin 30  sin 30  .

l  x0  0.347 m  0.055 m  0.292 m , which means that the block has

(b) From this result, we find 0
descended a vertical distance
 |  y |  hA  hB  l0 sin   (0.292 m)sin 30   0.146 m

in sliding from point A to point B. Thus, using Eq. 8-18, we have

1 1 2
0  mghA  mvB2  mghB  mvB  mg |  y |
2 2

which yields vB  2 g |  y |  2(9.8 m/s )(0.146 m)  1.69 m/s  1.7 m/s .

2

Note: Energy is conserved in the process. The total energy of the block at position B is

1 1
EB  mvB2  mghB  (12 kg)(1.69 m/s) 2  (12 kg)(9.8 m/s 2 )(0.028 m)  20 .4 J
2 2 ,

which is equal to the elastic potential energy in the spring:

1 2 1
kx0  (1.35  104 N/m)(0.055 m) 2  20.4 J
2 2 .

 
•• chapter 8, problem 30 (|| 8.29): A 2.0 kg breadbox on a frictionless incline of angle 0 40° is connected,
by a cord that runs over a pulley, to a light spring of spring constant k = 120 N/m, as shown in Fig. 8-41. The
box is released from rest when the spring is unstretched. Assume that the pulley is massless and frictionless. (a)
What is the speed of the box when it has moved 10 cm down the incline? (b) How far down the incline from its
point of release does the box slide before momen-tarily stopping, and what are the (c) magnitude and (d)
direction (up or down the incline) of the box’s acceleration at the instant the box momentarily stops?
Solution: We take the original height of the box to be the y = 0 reference level and observe that, in general, the
height of the box (when the box has moved a distance d downhill) is y  d sin 40 .

(a) Using the conservation of energy, we have

1 2 1
Ki  U i  K  U  0  0  mv  mgy  kd 2 .
2 2

Therefore, with d = 0.10 m, we obtain v = 0.81 m/s.

(b) We look for a value of d  0 such that K = 0.

1
Ki  U i  K  U  0  0  0  mgy  kd 2
2 .
Thus, we obtain mgd sin 40  2 kd and find d = 0.21 m.
1 2

(c) The uphill force is caused by the spring (Hooke's law) and has magnitude kd = 25.2 N. The downhill force is
the component of gravity mg sin 40 = 12.6 N. Thus, the net force on the box is (25.2 – 12.6) N = 12.6 N uphill,
with
a = F/m =(12.6 N)/(2.0 kg) = 6.3 m/s2.

(d) The acceleration is up the incline.

Chapter 8, problem 33: A spring with k  170 m is at the top of a frictionless incline of angle   37.0 . The
N

lower end of the incline is distance D  1.00m from the end of the spring, which is at its relaxed length. A
m  2.00kg canister is pushed against the spring until the spring is compressed d  0.200 m and released from
rest. (a) What is the speed of the canister at the instant the spring returns to its relaxed length (which is when
the canister loses contact with the spring)? (b) What is the speed of the canister when it reaches the lower end

of the incline?

The kinetic energy of the canister is given either by the work-energy theorem, or by conservation of energy,
K 2  Wg  WS  mgd sin   12 kd 2 ; or: K1  U1  K 2  U 2  0  12 kd 2  12 mv 2  mg ( d sin  );
919\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

K  Wg  WS  U1  U 2 U  Wg  mgd sin 

, where U1  WS  2 kd and 2
1 2
What results is 2 ; using any one you
want, you get a speed of,
 2K2 2(Wg  WS ) 2(mgd sin   12 kd 2 ) g k
v    d 2 sin  
m m m d m
9.81 sm2 170 Nm m
 0.200m 2 sin 37.0   2.40
0.200m 2.00kg s 10110\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

W   mgD sin 
When the canister reaches the lower end, gravity does an additional amount of work g ; we just
use the work-energy theorem, and redo the steps in Error: Reference source not found,
2 K 2 2( K 2  Wg ) 2(mgd sin   12 kd 2  mgD sin  ) k
v     2 g (d  D) sin   d 2
m m m m
170 Nm m
 2(9.81 sm2 )(0.200m  1.00m) sin 37.0  (0.200m) 2  4.19
2.00kg s
11111\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

Chapter 8, problem 35: In Fig. 8-40, a block of mass m = 3.20 kg slides from rest a distance d down a
frictionless incline at angle   30.0 where it runs into a spring of spring constant 431 N/m. When the block
momentarily stops, it has compressed the spring by 21.0 cm. What are (a) distance d and (b) the distance
between the point of the first block–spring contact and the point where the block's speed is greatest?

(a) let the mass m slide a distance d, and compress the spring a distance x. the d is,
2 kx  mgx sin 
2
1
(431 Nm )(0.21m) 2
Ws  2 kx  mg y  mg (d  x ) sin  
1 2 solve for d
d    0.21m  0.396m ;
mg sin  2(3.20kg )(9.81 sm2 )
12112\* MERGEFORMAT (.)

(b) The block is still accelerating (due to the component of gravity along the incline, mgsin(30º)) for a few
moments after coming into contact with the spring (which exerts the Hooke’s law force kx), until the Hooke’s
law force is strong enough to cause the block to begin decelerating. This point is reached when the spring-force
equals the gravitational-force,
mg (3.20kg )(9.81 sm2 ) sin 30.0
 F  F s  Fg   kx   mg sin   0 solve for x 
  x  
k
sin  
431 Nm
 0.0364m

13113\* MERGEFORMAT (.)

••• chapter 8, problem 36 (9th ed) ••• chapter 8, problem 36 (10th ed): Two children are playing a game in
which they try to hit a small box on the floor with a marble fired from a spring-loaded gun that is mounted on a
table. The target box is horizontal distance D = 2.20 m from the edge of the table; see Fig. 8-46. Bobby
compresses the spring x0  1.10cm , but the center of the marble falls   27.0cm  D  D0 short of the center of
the box. How far should Rhoda compress the spring to score a direct hit? Assume that neither the spring nor

the ball encounters friction in the gun.

Solution: If the spring constant is k , and the height of the table is h (neither h, k are given—we are
introducing it as a placeholder-variable!), then Rhoda must compress the spring a distance x , given by the
v  D / tf t
following (in which we introduce x and time-of-flight f as placeholder variables),
U S  12 kx 2  K  12 mvx 2  x  2
k US  2
k K  2
k ( 12 mvx 2 )  2
k ( 12 m( tDf ) 2 );
14114\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

Using the same machinations as Error: Reference source not found, Bobby compressed the spring a distance
given by,
U S ,0  12 kx0 2  K  12 mv0, x 2  x0  2
k US  2
k K  2
k ( 12 mv0, x 2 )  2
k ( 12 m( Dt f0 ) 2 ); D0  D   ;
15115\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

In both Error: Reference source not found and Error: Reference source not found, we have the (matching!) time-
of-flight of both marbles,
t f  2(h) / (  g )  2h / g ;
16116\* MERGEFORMAT (.)

So we have many unknown placeholder variables. As I mentioned in class, taking the ratio of two expressions
bearing the same units can often produce en-masse (and quite satisfying) cancellations,

x
2
k ( 12 m( tDf )2 ) D2 D solve for x D  2.20 m 
    x  x0    (1.10 cm)  1.25 cm ;
x0 2
( 12 m( Dt f0 )2 ) D0 2 D0 D0  1.93 m 
k
17117\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

••• chapter 8, problem 37: A uniform cord of length L  25cm  0.25m and mass m  15 g  0.015kg is
initially stuck to a ceiling. Later, it hangs vertically from the ceiling with only one end still stuck. What is the
change in the gravitational potential energy of the cord with this change in orientation? (Hint: Consider a
differential slice of the cord and then use integral calculus.)

Uf
U  dU
The textbook hint kind of sucks. Use my hint, and start from Ui
, and use U  mgy , and integrate over
dm  dm
dy dm
 m
 0.015 kg
 0.060 kgm  
dy , in which, due to the cord being uniform, we have dy L 0.25 m
,
Uf Uf mf yf yf yf
dm m m m1 1 2
U  dU   d (mgy)   gy  dm   gy  dy dy   gy  L dy  g L  y  dy  g L  2 y 
2
f yi  ;
Ui Ui mi yi yi yi
2 
18118\* MERGEFORMAT (.)

We can let the cord hanging from the ceiling have a potential energy of zero, and let the cord hanging have a
nonzero potential energy. CAUTION: now it remains to get the sign of potential energy right. I have not
F   dU
mentioned a coordinate system—I just asserted that U  mgy . Using the equation g dy , we see that

Fg   mg y 0
, so we made “down” the negative direction. This means that yi  L , and f ! Plugging these into
Error: Reference source not found, we finally have,
m1 2 1 2 m 1 2  1  1
U g  0  L   g   L   mg   L    mgL  mg   2 L   mg yCM
1
L2 2  L 2   2  2 19119\*
MERGEFORMAT (.)

That is, in order to “check” our final result, we massaged it into an expression that makes it clear that U is
given by mg times the displacement of the center-of-mass coordinate of the cord: very obviously a
displacement of yCM   2 L for a length-L cord initially with its entire length stuck at y  0 , and having a
1

final state of hanging straight-downwards (in the negative direction).