Chapter 9

9.3 What are (a) the x coordinate and (b) the y coordinate of the center of mass of the three particle
system shown in fig. 9-22. (c) What happens to the center of mass as the mass of the top-most
particle is increased.
We can calculate the center of mass in the x and y directions.

1
x cm = (m1 x1 + m2 x 2 + m 3 x 3 )
(m1 + m 2 + m3 )
1
= (3.0kg 0m + 4.0kg 2.0m + 8.0kg 1.0m)
(3.0kg + 4.0kg + 8.0kg)
1
= (16.0kg m)
(15kg)
16
= m
15
1
y cm = (m1 y1 + m2 y 2 + m 3 y 3 )
(m1 + m 2 + m3 )
1
= (3.0kg 0m + 4.0kg 1.0m + 8.0kg 2.0m)
(3.0kg + 4.0kg + 8.0kg)
1
= (20.0kg m)
(15kg)
20 4
= m= m
15 3
As the top-most mass grows larger, the cm will move toward that mass.
9.5Find the cm. We find the cm here by subtracting the contribution of the hole
ycm = 0
M 0 - m 2 - m 2
xcm = =
M -m M-m
2
M = r (6)
2
m = r (2)
2
-(r 2 ) 2
xcm = = -0.25m
r (62 - 22 )

9.15 A shell is fired from a gun with a muzzle velocity of 20m/s at an angle of 60. At the top of
the trajectory, the shell explodes into two equal mass fragments. One fragment, whose speed
immediately after the explosion is zero falls vertically. How far from the gun does the other
fragment land, assuming that the terrain is level and that the air drag is negligible.
First we find how long it took to reach the explosion point.
 v fy = 0
v iy = 20m / s sin60 = 17.32m / s
v ix = 20m / s cos60 = 10m / s
a = -g
v fy = v iy - gt
v iy
t= = 1.767s
g
Next we find the distance traveled before the explosion.

x = v ix t = 17.67m

Now we used momentum conservation to find the x velocity after the explosion. The time for the
second part of the trip is the same because there is no contribution to the y velocity, so we can find
the second distance and total distance.

m m
mv ix = 0 + v ix
2 2
v ix = 2v ix = 20m / s
x = v ix t = 35.34m
x total = 17.67m + 35.34m = 53.02m

9.28 Two blocks of mass

1.0 kg and 3.0 kg are connected by a spring nd rest on a frictionless
surface. they are given velocities toward each other such that the 1.0 kg block travels at 1.7m/s
toward the center of mass, which remains at rest. What is the initial velocity of the other block?
Since the center of mass is at rest, we know that the total momentum of the system is zero.
Assuming that the 1.0 kg block travels rin the r+ direction
r
p = m1v1 + m2v 2
r r
0 = m1v1 + m2v 2
r m r
v 2 = - 1 v1
m2
1.0kg
=- 1.7m / s
3.0kg
= 0.567m / s

9.29 A 75 kg main is riding on 39 kg cart traveling at a speed of 2.3 m/s He jumps off with zero
horizontal speed relative to the ground. What is the resulting change in the speed of the cart?
In this problem, the total momentum is conserved. Before the man jumps, the total momentum is
r r r
pi = m1v1 + m2v 2
= 75kg 2.3m / s + 39kg 2.3m / s
= 26.22 kg m / s
r r r
p f = m1v1 + m 2v 2
r r
p f = pi
r r
m1v1 + m2v 2 = 26.22 kg m / s
r
75kg 0m / s + 39kg v 2 = 26.22 kg m / s
r 26.22 kg m / s
v 2 =
39kg
= 6.723m / s
...an increase of 4.423 m/s