Chapter 9

9.1

Consider a frame the origin O and another frame with origin O. Frame O is moving
with velocity V in the x-direction with respect to frame O. Let there be a force F act
on a particle; the force is the same in the two frames.

Then by the work energy

theorem in frame O, we have

xf

1 2 1 2
mv f mv i F ( x) dx
2
2
xi
Now in the frame O, the corresponding velocities are related to the velocities in frame O
as follows
v f V v 'f

vi V vi'

and
x x 'Vt

dx dx'Vdt

and t t ' dt dt '

Substituting this in the work energy theorem gives

1
m v 'f
2

m v i'
2

x'
f

mV v

'
f

'
i

tf

F ( x' ) dx' V Fdt

ti

x'
i

tf

Now

Fdt is noting but the momentum change m v

vi m v 'f vi' , which is the

ti

tf

same in both the frames. Thus

Fdt m v

'
f

vi' . This, when substituted in the

ti

equation above leads to

1
m v 'f
2

1
m v 'i
2

x'
f

Which is the work energy theorem in frame O.

9.2

Kinetic energy of each particle is

1
0.1 12 0.05 J
2

and

1
0.2 2 2 0.4 J
2

F ( x ' )dx'

x'
i

Thus the total kinetic energy of the system is = 0.45J

Momentum of the system is = 0.1 0.4 0.5kgms 1
Velocity of the CM therefore is =

0.5
1.667 ms 1
0.3

2
PCM
0.25

0.417 J
Thus the kinetic energy of the CM is =
2 m1 m2 2 0.3

Thus the kinetic energy of then particles in the CM frame is = 0.450.417 = 0.033J
This can also be checked by calculating the kinetic energy of each particle in the CM
frame, which is
1
2
2
0.1 1.0 VCM 0.05 1.0 1.667 0.022 J
2
1
2
2
0.2 2. 1.667 0.1 2.0 1.667 0.011J
2

9.3

Since the momentum of the system is zero, the kinetic energy of the CM = 0

9.4

Masses, velocities, moment and kinetic energies o feach particle are shown in the table
below
mi(kg)
1
2
3
4
5

vi(ms1)
1
2
3
4
5

pi(kgms1)
1
4
9
16
25

Thus the total mass is = 15kg

Total momentum is = 15kgms1
Velocity of the CM =

15
1ms 1
15

Total kinetic energy = 112.5J

2
PCM
15 15

7.5 J
Kinetic energy of CM =
2 total mass
2 15

Kinetic energy about the CM = 105J

KEi(J)
0.5
4.0
13.5
32
62.5

This is easily checked by calculating the kinetic energy of each particle about the CM and
adding them all up. Thus
KE about the CM =

1
2
2
2
2
2
1 1 1 2 2 1 3 3 1 4 4 1 5 5 1
2

= 105J
9.5

From equation (9.37), we have

v1 VCM
v 2 V CM

m2
(v1 v 2 )
m1 m 2

m1
(v1 v 2 )
m1 m 2

Thus the kinetic energy of the system

1
1
1
1 m1 m22
2
2
2
m1v1 m2 v 2 m1VCM
v1 v2 2 m1m2 VCM v1 v2
2
m1 m2
2
2
2
2 m1 m 2
1
1 m 2 m12
2
v1 v2 2 m1m2 VCM v1 v2
m2VCM

2
2
2 m1 m 2
m1 m2
Since v rel v1 v 2 , we get
1
1
1
1 m1 m2
2
v1 v2 2
m1v12 m2 v 22 m1 m2 VCM

2
2
2
2 m1 m2

9.6

(a)

We

will

be

F ( x)

using

U ( x ) F ( x ) dx C

1
1 2
2
MVCM
v rel
2
2
dU ( x )
dx

to

calculate

the

force.

Thus

, where C is a constant chosen according to the reference

point x0, where U x0 0 .

U ( x) kxdx C

(i) F ( x ) kx
(ii) F ( x)

1
x a2
2

1 2
kx C
2

To calculate the potential energy, substitute x a sinh z so that

dx a cosh zdz to get U ( x ) sinh 1

x
C
a

(iii) F ( x ) 5 sin 2 x

U ( x ) 5 sin 2 x dx

5
cos 2 x dx C
2

(iv) F ( x) 5 sin 2 2 x
U ( x) 5 sin 2 2 x dx

(b)

5
1 cos 4 x dx 5 x sin 4 x C

2
2
4

The plots of force and potential in each of the cases above are as follows. The force is
shown on the left and the corresponding potential on the right in each case.
(i)

We have taken k = 1.5. We have chosen the constant such that U(0) = 0.

(ii)

The plots are drawn for a = 5

(iii) We have chosen the constant such that U(0) = max.

(iv)We have chosen the constant such that U(0) = 0. Notice that the average force is always
positive, i.e. pointing in the positive x-direction. Therefore the potential energy curve keeps
going down as x increase.

9.7 We use U ( x) F ( x) dx C and keep the potential continuous everywhere. In the

plots the force is shown on the left and the corresponding potential on the right in each
case.
(i)

k if x 0
F ( x)
k if x 0

x 0 U ( x) (k )dx C kx C

U ( x) k x C

x 0 U ( x) kdx C kx C

If we choose

U (0) 0,

U ( x) k x

For the plots drawn below we have chosen k = 2.

(ii)

F ( x) k x

1 2
kx C
2
1
x 0 U ( x) ( kx) dx C kx 2 C
2
x 0 U ( x) kx dx C

If we choose U(x) = 0, C=0.

For the plots below, we have chosen k=2.

(iii)

0 if x a

F ( x)

kx if x a

The nature of force implies that the potential is a constant for a x a

x a U ( x) kx dx C
x a U ( x)

1 2
kx C
2

1 2
ka C
2

1
2

2
Choosing U(0) = 0 gives C ka and

x a
x a

1
k x2 a2
2
U ( x) 0
U ( x)

For the plots below, we have chosen k=2 and a =15.

(iv)

0 if x a

F ( x) C
2 if x a
x
The nature of force implies that the potential is a constant for a x a
x a U ( x)
x a U ( x)

C
C
dx const const
2
x
x

C
const
a

Choosing U(0) = 0 gives const

C
C
for x a and const for x a
a
a

Thus

C C
x a U ( x) x a

C C

x a U ( x)
x a

x a U ( x) 0

For the plots below, we have chosen C=250 and a =20.

9.8

We use F ( x )

dU ( x )
. This gives
dx

(i) U ( x) kx

(ii)

U ( x) k x

(iii) U ( x)

1
x a2
2

(iv) U ( x)

F ( x)

dkx
k
dx

d kx
dx k x 0
F ( x)
d kx k x 0
dx
F ( x)

d
1
2x

2
2
2
dx x a
x a2

d
1
2x
1
F ( x) 2

2
dx x a x 2 a 2 2
x2 a2

(b) Plot for part (i) is straightforward; it is a constant force and linearly varying potential
Plots for part (ii) are similar to that of part (i) in problem 9.7. This has been given above.
(iii)

We have chosen a = 5. The force is shown on the left and the corresponding potential
on the right.

Notice that the force is negative for negative x and positive for positive x. Thus it is a force
that pushes a particle away from x = 0 and the position at x = 0 is an unstable equilibrium
point. Thus when a particle is displaced slightly from this point, it will runaway to infinity.
(iv)

We have chosen a = 5. The force is shown on the left and the corresponding
potential on the right.

Notice that the force is positive for negative x and negative for positive x. Thus it is a
restoring force and the position at x = 0 is a stable equilibrium point. Further the force is
varying almost linearly with x near x = 0. Thus when a particle is displaced slightly from this
point, it will perform simple harmonic oscillation.

9.9
9.10

Since all the potentials except (i) are time-dependent, only (i) is conservative.
For the block not to fall off the track, its speed v at the top of the loop should be such that
v2
g v 2 Rg
R

Now by the conservation of energy we have

mgh mg (2 R )

1
mgR
mv 2
2
2

5
R
2

9.11 For the potential energy U ( x) C x a 3 we have the potential energy curve (with
parameters C = 0.5 and a =2)

It is clear from the curve that a particle will always experience a force in the negative direction
except at a = 2. From this it is clear that the point x = a is a point of unstable equilibrium.
For the potential energy U ( x) C x a 3 we have the potential energy curve (with parameters
C = 0.5 and a =2)

This potential energy curve gives force opposite to the displacement, and the force is zero at x =
a. Thus this point is a point of stable equilibrium.

Notice that unlike the potential energy for a

1 2
kx , this potential energy is quite flat near the equilibrium point (because
2

spring

x a 4 x a 2 for

x a 1.

For larger displacements from x = a, the curve rises much faster

than the spring potential energy.

9.12

Let the velocities of the balls be v1 and v2 after the collision (since this is a one
dimensional motion, we are not putting vector signs on top of the velocities). Then by
momentum conservation
mV m v1 v 2 V v1 v 2
1
1
mV 2 m v12 v 22 V 2 v12 v 22
2
2

The first equation gives V 2 v12 v 22 2v1v 2

This and the second equation implies that 2v1v 2 0
Thus either v1 is zero, i.e. the first ball is not moving. This is the situation after collision.
Or v2 is zero, i.e. the second ball is not moving. This is the situation before collision.
9.13

According to the situation give, the two balls are undergoing an elastic collision (no loss
in energy) when they are moving in the opposite directions with equal speed V. Let

the mass of the lighter ball be m and that of the heavier one be M. If the velocity of
smaller ball is v1 after the collision, then by equation 9.36 (taking vertically up
direction to be positive)
v1

M m V
M m

M
3MV mV
( 2V )
M m
M m

In the extreme limit, when M>>m, we have v1 3V

If the balls are dropped from a height h then V

2 gh

If after the collision the smaller ball goes to height H then

3V

2 gH

These two equations give H 9h

9.14 By momentum conservation we have

m1 m2 v m1v0
Totla initial energy =
Final energy =

m1v o
m1 m2

1
m1v 02
2

m1
1 m12 v 02

initial energy
2 m1 m2 m1 m2

As is clear, the final energy is less than the initial energy. Therefore some energy is lost in
the process.
Now consider a pile of beads, each of mass m, connected with strings of length l between
them. As the first bead falls over the edge, its initial speed is zero bu by the time the string
connecting it to the second bead is taut, it gains a velocity of

2 gl

. However, as soon

as it pulls the second bead, by momentum conservation at that instant (neglecting the
impulse due to gravity) the speed of two beads is
v

m 2 gl

2m

gl
2

Now the two beads fall together and as the string connecting the second bead to the third
bead becomes taut, the energy of hse two beads is
1
gl
5
2m
2mgl mgl
2
2
2

This gives the speed of the two beads to be

5gl
2

Thus when the third bead is pulled over, momentum conservation at that instant gives the
speed of the three beads to be =

2m 5 gl 2
3m

2
3

5 gl
2

One can go on like this and build up the solution up to p th bead falling by recognizing a
pattern. We can also do the problem in the following way.
Suppose when the (p-1)th bead has just fallen of the edge, the speed of the beads becomes
v p 1 .

Then when these beads fall and the string between the (p-1) th and pth string becomes

taut, the energy of the system will be

1
( p 1) m v 2p 1 ( p 1) mgl
2

Thus the speed of these beads just before the pth bead falls off the edge is given by
1
1
( p 1) mv 2 ( p 1) m v 2p 1 ( p 1) mgl
2
2

v 2 v 2p 1 2 gl

By momentum conservation, therefore, we get the speed when the pth bead falls off as
follows
pmv p ( p 1) mv

pv p ( p 1) v 2p 1 2 gl

p 2 v 2p ( p 1) 2 v 2p 1 ( p 1) 2 2 gl

We know that v1 0 i.e. when the first bead just falls off the edge of the table, its speed is
zero. Now we can write
( p 1) 2 v 2p ( p 2) 2 v 2p 1 ( p 2) 2 2 gl

And so on so that continuing in this manner we get ( v1 0 )

p 1

p 2 v 2p v12 ( p 1) 2 ( p 2) 2 ( p 3) 2 .......... 1 2 gl 2 gl i 2
i 1

( p 1) p( 2 p 1)
2 gl
6

This gives
vp

9.15

( p 1)(2 p 1) gl
3p

From problem 8.18, the total force required to move the chain is gh v 2 . Thus the
power delivered by the person pulling the chain is = ghv v 3
On the other hand, the energy of the chain is = kinetic energy + potential energy
If the length of the chain on the table is x then

dx
v and
dt

Kinetic energy =

1
( x h)v 2
2

Thus Total energy E =

This gives

potential energy =

1
gh 2 xgh
2

1
1
( x h)v 2 gh 2 xgh
2
2

dE 1 3
v vgh
dt
2

Thus the rate of change of the energy of the chain is not equal to the power delivered. As
shown in the previous problem, the energy is lost in the inelastic collision.
One may ask a question: what if instead of the chain, it s a rope or a strin that is being
pulled? Where does the energy go in that case? The answer is that the energy difference is
then used in stretching the rope to generate the required force.
9.16 Let the length of the chain be L. If its length y is hanging from the table, the force
pulling it down is =

Mg
y
L

Taking the vertically down direction to be positive, the coordinate of the end of the hanging
portion of the chain, when its length is y , is also y.
Thus the equation of motion of the chain is M y

Mg
y
l

or

g
y0
L

The equation can also be derived by considering the two protions, the one hanging from the
table and the other on the table, separately.
1 dy 2
Writing y
we get from the equation above
2 dy

1
dy 2 Mg
M

y0
2
dy
l

1
Mg
M d y 2
2 0
l

y' dy' 0

y1

This gives
1
1 Mg 2
Mv 2
y y12 0 or
2
2 l

1
1 Mg 2
1 Mg 2
Mv 2
y
y1
2
2 l
2 l

The second term in the equation above is the change in the potential energy of the chain as
the length of its hanging portion changes from y1 to y. Thus the total energy of the chain

remains unchanged as it slips off or the energy is conserved. This can also be seen as
follows
When length y1 is hanging,
kinetic energy = 0

potential energy =

1 Mg 2
y1
2 l

Total energy =

1 Mg 2
y1
2 l

When length y is hanging,

kinetic energy =

1
Mv 2
2

potential energy =

Total energy =

1 Mg 2
y
2 l

1
1 Mg 2
Mv 2
y
2
2 l

It is clear from the above that the total energy remains unchanged.
9.17 As the chain unfolds, the mass of the hanging (and moving) portion keeps on
changing. Thus the problem is like the variable mass problem. We take the mass per
unit length of the chain to be . Taking the vertically down direction to be positive, the
coordinate of the end of the hanging portion of the chain, when its length is y , is also
y. The external force on the chain is yg ,

dm
y , and the relative velocity of the
dt

mass that is added to it is y . Thus the equation of motion my

dm
u rel Fext of
dt

the chain is
yy y 2 yg

OR

yy y 2 yg

1 dy 2
Using y
we write this equation as
2 dy

1 dy 2
y 2

g
2 dy
y

2
We now solve this equation for y 2 as the sum of the solution y y 2 of the homogeneous

part and the particular solution

2
yg to get
3
y 2

A 2
yg
y2 3

Here A is a constant. Using the condition that y 2 ( y y1 ) 0 , we get A

2 3
y1 g and
3

therefore

2 y 3 y13
y
g
3y 2
2

The same result can be obtained by letting p and l 0 such that pl y in the solution
for a coiled set of beads in problem 9.14.
Now let us compare the energy of the chain at the beginning o fthe motion and agter it has
slipped so that y of its length is hanging.
At the beginning, when length y1 is hanging,
kinetic energy = 0

potential energy =

1
gy12
2

Total energy =

1
gy12
2

When length y is hanging,

Kinetic energy =
Potential energy =

y 3 y13 g 1 y 2 g 1 y13 g
1
yy 2
2
3y
3
3 y

1
gy 2
2

Total energy =

2 y1
1 y13
1
1
Initial total energy gy 2 Initial total energy
g gy 2
3 y
6
6
3y

Thus we see that the energy is lost during the motion. This happens due to the inelastic
collision between the chain links as each new link is pulled by the moving chain (see
problem 9.14).