Chapter 8 Systems of Particles and Conservation of Momentum

a = (m1 - m2)/(m1 + m2)

2. Simplify the expression for a cm a cm = [(m1 - m2)2g]/[(m1 + m2)(m1 + m2 +mc)]
(b) F = Mg - Ma cm; M = m1 + m2 + mc F = Mg - (m1 - m2)2g/(m1 + m2)
= [4m1m2/(m1 + m2) + mc]g
(c) From Problem 4-81, T = 2m1m2g/(m1 + m2) F = 2T + mc g = [4m1m2/(m1 + m2) + mc]g; Q.E.D.

24 ·· Repeat Problems 22a and 22b with the ball dropped into the cup from a height h above the cup.
(a) There is no change here. Scale reading = (mp + mb)g

mb g  2kh 
0
 2 kh 
(b) See Prob. 7-96; xmax = 1+ 1+  F = mpg + mbg 1 + 1 + 0

k  mb g   mb g 

25* · True or false: (a) The momentum of a heavy object is greater than that of a light object moving at the same speed.
(b) The momentum of a system may be conserved even when mechanical energy is not. (c) The velocity of the center
of mass of a system equals the total momentum of the system divided by its total mass.
(a) True (for magnitude) (b) True (inelastic collision) (c) True
26 · How is the recoil of a rifle related to momentum conservation?
p recoil + p gun = 0; p recoil = -p gun.
27 · A man is stranded in the middle of an ice rink that is perfectly frictionless. How can he get to the edge?
If he throws something forward, he will move backward.

28 · A girl jumps from a boat to a dock. Why does she have to jump with more energy than she would need if she were
jumping the same distance from one dock to another?
She must give the boat a recoil momentum, and Eboat = p boat 20/2mboat .
29* ·· Much early research in rocket motion was done by Robert Goddard, physics professor at Clark College in
Worcester, Mass. A quotation from a 1921 editorial in the New York Times illustrates the public acceptance of his
work: “That Professor Goddard with his ‘chair’ at Clark College and the countenance of the Smithonian Institution
does not know the relation between action and reaction, and the need to have something better than a vacuum against
which to react—to say that would be absurd. Of course, he only seems to lack the knowledge ladled out daily in high
schools.” The belief that a rocket needs something to push against was a prevalent misconception before rockets in
space were commonplace. Explain why that belief is wrong.
Conservation of momentum does not require the presence of a medium such as air.
30 ·· Liz, Jay, and Tara discover that sinister chemicals are leaking at a steady rate from a hole in the bottom of a
railway car. To collect evidence of a potential environmental mishap, they videotape the car as it rolls without friction
at an initial speed v0. Tara claims that careful analysis of the videotape will show that the car’s speed is increasing,
because it is losing mass as it drains. The increase in speed will help to prove that the leak is occurring. Liz says no,
that with a loss of mass, the car’s speed will be decreasing. Jay says the speed will remain the same. (a) Who is right?
(b) What forces are exerted on the system of the car plus chemical cargo?