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 is fastened to a spring on an incline of angle , and a block of mass is placed against it. The blocks are pushed from equilibrium by a further distance of against the spring and released. What is the common speed of the blocks at the moment they separate?
Options
- A
- B
- C
- D
Correct answer
D.
Step-by-step solution
Let the compression of the spring be . The equilibrium position of the system of two blocks is given by balancing the forces along the incline:
The blocks are pushed a further distance from equilibrium, which becomes the amplitude of their simple harmonic motion:
The blocks move together up the incline. Let be the normal force between the blocks. The equation of motion for block is:
The blocks separate when the normal force becomes zero (), which gives the acceleration at the moment of separation:
For the combined system, the equation of motion is:
Substituting , we get:
Thus, the blocks separate when the spring reaches its natural length. The natural length is at a distance from the equilibrium position. The speed of the blocks at this position can be found using the velocity formula for simple harmonic motion, , where is the displacement from equilibrium:
Answer:
The blocks are pushed a further distance from equilibrium, which becomes the amplitude of their simple harmonic motion:
The blocks move together up the incline. Let be the normal force between the blocks. The equation of motion for block is:
The blocks separate when the normal force becomes zero (), which gives the acceleration at the moment of separation:
For the combined system, the equation of motion is:
Substituting , we get:
Thus, the blocks separate when the spring reaches its natural length. The natural length is at a distance from the equilibrium position. The speed of the blocks at this position can be found using the velocity formula for simple harmonic motion, , where is the displacement from equilibrium:
Answer: