Chapter 8 Systems of Particles and Conservation of Momentum

mass, and (b) its total kinetic energy is the energy of its motion relative to its center of mass.
(a) It has a speed v but is not spinning about its axis.
(b) It has no velocity but is spinning about its center of mass.
39 · Two bowling balls are moving with the same velocity, but one just slides down the alley, whereas the other rolls
down the alley. Which ball has more energy?
The rolling ball has more energy, 1/2mvcm2 + Krel .
40 · A 3-kg block is traveling to the right at 5 m/s, and a second 3-kg block is traveling to the left at 2 m/s. (a) Find the
total kinetic energy of the two blocks in this reference frame. (b) Find the velocity of the center of mass of the two-
body system. (c) Find the velocities of the two blocks relative to the center of mass. (d) Find the kinetic energy of the
motion of the blocks relative to the center of mass. (e) Show that your answer for part (a) is greater than your answer
for part (d) by an amount equal to the kinetic energy of the center of mass.
(a) K = K1 + K2 K = 1/2[3 × 25 + 3 × 4] J = 43.5 J
(b) Use Equ. 8-13 vcm = (3 × 5 - 3 × 2)/6 i m/s = 1.5 i m/s
(c) vrel = v - vcm v1,rel = 3.5 i m/s; v2,rel = -3.5 i m/s
(d) Krel = K1,rel + K2,rel Krel = 1/2(3 × 3.52 + 3 × 3.52) J = 36.75 J
(e) Find Kcm Kcm = 1/2(6 × 1.52) J = 6.75 J = K - Krel

41* · Repeat Problem 40 with the second, 3-kg block replaced by a block having a mass of 5 kg and moving to the right
at 3 m/s.
We follow the same procedures as in the preceding problem.

(a) K = 1/2(3 × 52 + 5 × 32) J = 60 J; (b) vcm = (3 × 5 + 5 × 3)/8 i m/s = 3.75 i m/s; (c) v1,rel = 1.25 m/s,
2 2 2
v2,rel = -0.75 m/s; (d) Krel = 1/2(3 × 1.25 + 5 × 0.75 ) J = 3.75 J; (e) Kcm = 1/2(8 × 3.75 ) = 56.25 J = K - Krel .
42 · Explain why a safety net can save the life of a circus performer.
It reduces the force acting on the performer by increasing ∆t. Note that ∆p = F∆t is constant.
43 · How might you estimate the collision time of a baseball and bat?
Assume that the ball travels at 80 mi/h = 35 m/s. The ball stops in a distance of about 1 cm. So the distance
traveled is about 2 cm at an average speed of about 18 m/s. The collision time is 0.02/18 = 1 ms.
44 · Why does a wine glass survive a fall onto a carpet but not onto a concrete floor?
The average force on the glass is less when falling on a carpet because ∆t is longer.
45* · A soccer ball of mass 0.43 kg leaves the foot of the kicker with an initial speed of 25 m/s. (a) What is the impulse
imparted to the ball by the kicker? (b) If the foot of the kicker is in contact with the ball for 0.008 s, what is the
average force exerted by the foot on the ball?
(a) Use Equ. 8-19 I = mv = 10.75 N.s
(b) Use Equ. 8-20 Fav = 10.75/0.008 N = 1344 N

46 · A 0.3-kg brick is dropped from a height of 8 m. It hits the ground and comes to rest. (a) What is the impulse
exerted by the ground on the brick? (b) If it takes 0.0013 s from the time the brick first touches the ground until it
comes to rest, what is the average force exerted by the ground on the brick?