Quantrex Quantrex AcademyJEE · NEET · NDA PYQs with solutions Open app
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
Exam
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Simple Harmonic Motion

Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1] · Physics · Simple Harmonic Motion

A block of mass m_1 is fastened to a spring on an incline of angle...

A block of mass m1m_1 is fastened to a spring on an incline of angle θ\theta, and a block of mass m2m_2 is placed against it. The blocks are pushed from equilibrium by a further distance of (2/k)(m1+m2)gsin⁡θ(2/k)(m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta against the spring and released. What is the common speed of the blocks at the moment they separate?

Options

  1. A3k(m1+m2)gsin⁡θ\sqrt{\dfrac{3}{k}} (m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta
  2. Bm1+m2kgsin⁡θ\sqrt{\dfrac{m_1 + m_2}{k}} g \sin\theta
  3. C2(m1+m2)kgsin⁡θ\sqrt{\dfrac{2(m_1 + m_2)}{k}} g \sin\theta
  4. D3(m1+m2)kgsin⁡θ\sqrt{\dfrac{3(m_1 + m_2)}{k}} g \sin\theta

Correct answer

D. 3(m1+m2)kgsin⁡θ\sqrt{\dfrac{3(m_1 + m_2)}{k}} g \sin\theta

Step-by-step solution

Let the compression of the spring be xx. The equilibrium position of the system of two blocks is given by balancing the forces along the incline:

kxeq=(m1+m2)gsin⁡θ⇒xeq=(m1+m2)gsin⁡θkk x_{eq} = (m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta \Rightarrow x_{eq} = \dfrac{(m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta}{k}

The blocks are pushed a further distance AA from equilibrium, which becomes the amplitude of their simple harmonic motion:

A=2(m1+m2)gsin⁡θkA = \dfrac{2(m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta}{k}

The blocks move together up the incline. Let NN be the normal force between the blocks. The equation of motion for block m2m_2 is:

N−m2gsin⁡θ=m2aN - m_2 g \sin\theta = m_2 a

The blocks separate when the normal force becomes zero (N=0N = 0), which gives the acceleration at the moment of separation:

a=−gsin⁡θa = -g \sin\theta

For the combined system, the equation of motion is:

kx−(m1+m2)gsin⁡θ=(m1+m2)ak x - (m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta = (m_1 + m_2) a

Substituting a=−gsin⁡θa = -g \sin\theta, we get:

kx−(m1+m2)gsin⁡θ=−(m1+m2)gsin⁡θ⇒kx=0⇒x=0k x - (m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta = -(m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta \Rightarrow k x = 0 \Rightarrow x = 0

Thus, the blocks separate when the spring reaches its natural length. The natural length is at a distance xeqx_{eq} from the equilibrium position. The speed of the blocks at this position can be found using the velocity formula for simple harmonic motion, v=ωA2−y2v = \omega \sqrt{A^2 - y^2}, where y=xeqy = x_{eq} is the displacement from equilibrium:

v=km1+m2(2(m1+m2)gsin⁡θk)2−((m1+m2)gsin⁡θk)2v = \sqrt{\dfrac{k}{m_1 + m_2}} \sqrt{\left(\dfrac{2(m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta}{k}\right)^2 - \left(\dfrac{(m_1 + m_2) g \sin\theta}{k}\right)^2}

v=km1+m23(m1+m2)2g2sin⁡2θk2v = \sqrt{\dfrac{k}{m_1 + m_2}} \sqrt{\dfrac{3(m_1 + m_2)^2 g^2 \sin^2\theta}{k^2}}

v=3(m1+m2)kgsin⁡θv = \sqrt{\dfrac{3(m_1 + m_2)}{k}} g \sin\theta

Answer: 3(m1+m2)kgsin⁡θ\sqrt{\dfrac{3(m_1 + m_2)}{k}} g \sin\theta
Practice Simple Harmonic Motion on Quantrex Academy →

More from Simple Harmonic Motion

At a specific instant, the magnitudes of the position, velocity, and acceleration of a… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]For a particle executing simple harmonic motion, the maximum speed and acceleration are… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]A particle having a mass of 10 g oscillates according to the equation x = (2.0 cm) [(100… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]A particle undergoes simple harmonic motion having an amplitude of 10 cm . At what… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]A particle executes simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of 10 cm and a time period… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]A particle having a mass of 10 g oscillates according to the equation x = (2.0 cm) [(100… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]A particle begins its motion at t = 0 according to the equation x = 5 (20 t + π/3)… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]A particle starts moving at t = 0 with its position given by the equation x = 5 (20 t +… Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1] Full Simple Harmonic Motion list All Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1] PYQs