1995 Paper 1 Q10

Year: 1995
Paper: 1
Question Number: 10

Course: UFM Mechanics
Section: Work, energy and Power 2

Difficulty: 1500.0 Banger: 1500.0

Problem

A small ball of mass \(m\) is suspended in equilibrium by a light elastic string of natural length \(l\) and modulus of elasticity \(\lambda.\) Show that the total length of the string in equilibrium is \(l(1+mg/\lambda).\) If the ball is now projected downwards from the equilibrium position with speed \(u_{0},\) show that the speed \(v\) of the ball at distance \(x\) below the equilibrium position is given by \[ v^{2}+\frac{\lambda}{lm}x^{2}=u_{0}^{2}. \] At distance \(h\), where \(\lambda h^{2} < lmu_{0}^{2},\) below the equilibrium position is a horizontal surface on which the ball bounces with a coefficient of restitution \(e\). Show that after one bounce the velocity \(u_{1}\) at \(x=0\) is given by \[ u_{1}^{2}=e^{2}u_{0}^{2}+\frac{\lambda}{lm}h^{2}(1-e^{2}), \] and that after the second bounce the velocity \(u_{2}\) at \(x=0\) is given by \[ u_{2}^{2}=e^{4}u_{0}^{2}+\frac{\lambda}{lm}h^{2}(1-e^{4}). \]

No solution available for this problem.

Rating Information

Difficulty Rating: 1500.0

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Banger Rating: 1500.0

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Problem source
A small ball of mass $m$ is suspended in equilibrium by a light elastic
string of natural length $l$ and modulus of elasticity $\lambda.$
Show that the total length of the string in equilibrium is $l(1+mg/\lambda).$ 

If the ball is now projected downwards from the equilibrium position
with speed $u_{0},$ show that the speed $v$ of the ball at distance
$x$ below the equilibrium position is given by 
\[
v^{2}+\frac{\lambda}{lm}x^{2}=u_{0}^{2}.
\]
At distance $h$, where $\lambda h^{2} < lmu_{0}^{2},$ below the equilibrium
position is a horizontal surface on which the ball bounces with a
coefficient of restitution $e$. Show that after one bounce the velocity
$u_{1}$ at $x=0$ is given by 
\[
u_{1}^{2}=e^{2}u_{0}^{2}+\frac{\lambda}{lm}h^{2}(1-e^{2}),
\]
and that after the second bounce the velocity $u_{2}$ at $x=0$ is
given by 
\[
u_{2}^{2}=e^{4}u_{0}^{2}+\frac{\lambda}{lm}h^{2}(1-e^{4}).
\]