Tutorial 8a – Linear Momentum

Question 1.
A spring of stiffness 𝑘 𝑁/𝑚 is placed between 2 blocks of mass 𝑚𝐴 and 𝑚𝐵 such that the axis of the spring is
perpendicular to the faces of the blocks in contact with the spring The blocks are each subjected to a force 𝐹
that causes the spring to compress by an amount 𝑑. Determine the velocity of the blocks the instant the
compressing forces are removed and the impulse of each block. Neglect the effects of friction.

Question 2.
A block of mass 𝑚𝐴 = 6.5𝑘𝑔 slides down the smooth ramp that sits on the ground at its lower end. The block’s
initial position is 5m above the ground and its initial speed is 3.5𝑚/𝑠. At the bottom of the ramp, the block
collides with a stationary block of mass 𝑚𝐵 = 7.2𝑘𝑔 located just beyond the ramp. If the two blocks couple
together after collision, determine their common velocity immediately after collision. Neglect the effects of
friction.

Question 3.
A 3𝑘𝑔 mass moves in the horizontal plane along a straight path of trajectory 𝑦 = 2.34𝑚 and at 3.5𝑚/𝑠.
Determine the angular momentum of the object about the origin.

Question 4.
A vehicle weight of 850 kg is traveling at 4 𝑚/𝑠 when it crashes into a rigid wall. If the impact occurs in
0.06 𝑠𝑒𝑐, determine the average impulsive force acting on the car. Assume the brakes are not applied. If the
coefficient of kinetic friction between the wheels and the pavement is 𝜇𝑘 = 0.3, calculate the impulsive force
on the wall if the brakes were applied during the crash. The brakes are applied to all four wheels so that all the
wheels slip

Question 5.
A railroad wagon has a mass of 20 Mg and rolls freely along a horizontal rail track at a speed of 0.75 𝑚/𝑠. At
the end of the track, it strikes a rigid barrier. Determine the horizontal impulse needed to stop the car.

Question 6.
An object weighing 100kg resting on a horizontal surface is subjected to a variable force of the form:
𝐹 = 400√𝑡: 0 < 𝑡 ≤ 4𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝐹 = 800: 𝑡 > 4𝑠𝑒𝑐
If the object is initially at rest, and the coefficient of static and sliding frictions are 𝜇𝑠 = 0.4 and 𝜇𝑠 = 0.15
respectively, determine the speed of the block at 𝑡 = 2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 and 𝑡 = 8 𝑠𝑒𝑐.