Chapter 8 Systems of Particles and Conservation of Momentum

(b) by application of Equ. 8-10.

17* · The two pucks in Problem 16 are lying on a frictionless table and connected by a spring of force constant k. A
horizontal force F1 is again exerted only on m1 along the spring away from m2.What is the magnitude of the
acceleration of the center of mass? (a) F1/m1 (b) F1/(m1 + m2) (c) (F1 + k ∆x)/(m1 + m2), where ∆x is the amount the
spring is stretched. (d) (m1 + m2)F1/m1m2
(b) by application of Equ. 8-10; the spring force is an internal force.
18 · Two 3-kg masses have velocities v1 = 2 m/s i + 3 m/s j and v2 = 4 m/s i - 6 m/s j. Find the velocity of the center of
mass for the system.
Use Equ. 8-13; vcm = (Σ mivi)/M = (v1 + v2)/2. vcm = 3 m/s i - 1.5 m/s j

19 · A 1500-kg car is moving westward with a speed of 20 m/s, and a 3000-kg truck is traveling east with a speed of
16 m/s. Find the velocity of the center of mass of the system.
Let east be the positive i direction. vcm = (Σ mivi)/M vcm = [(3000 × 16 - 1500 × 20) /4500] m/s i = 4 m/s i

20 · A force F = 12 N i is applied to the 3-kg ball in Problem 7. What is the acceleration of the center of mass?
2 2
Use Equ. 8-10 a cm = (12/5) m/s i = 2.4 m/s i

21* ·· A block of mass m is attached to a string and suspended inside a hollow box of mass M. The box rests on a scale
that measures the system’s weight. (a) If the string breaks, does the reading on the scale change? Explain your
reasoning. (b) Assume that the string breaks and the mass m falls with constant acceleration g. Find the acceleration
of the center of mass, giving both direction and magnitude. (c) Using the result from (b), determine the reading on the
scale while m is in free fall.
(a) Yes; initially the scale reads (M + m)g; while m is in free fall, the reading is Mg.
(b) a cm = mg/(M + m), directed downward.
(c) Fnet = (M + m)g - (M + m)a cm = Mg.
22 ·· A vertical spring of force constant k is attached at the bottom to a platform of mass mp, and at the top to a
massless cup, as in Figure 8-50. The platform rests on a scale. A ball of mass mb is placed in the cup. What is the
reading on the scale when (a) the spring is compressed an amount d = mbg/k ? (b) the ball comes to rest momentarily
with the spring compressed? (c) the ball again comes to rest in its original position?
(a) The force exerted by the spring on mp = mbg Scale reading = mpg + mbg
2
(b) When the ball is at rest, mbgd = 1/2kd ; Scale reading = kd + mpg = (2mb + mp)g
d = 2mbg/k
(c) In this case, the spring exerts no force on mb Scale reading = mpg

23 ·· In the Atwood’s machine in Figure 8-51, the string passes over a fixed, frictionless cylinder of mass mc. (a) Find
the acceleration of the center of mass of the two-block-and-cylinder system. (b) Use Newton’s second law for
systems to find the force F exerted by the support. (c) Find the tension in the string connecting the blocks and show
that F = mcg + 2T.
(a) 1. Use Equ. 8-8 and results of Problem 4-81 a cm = (m1a - m2a)/(m1 + m2 + mc);