AP Physics C Mechanics Simple and Physical Pendulums FRQ

Simple and Physical Pendulums AP  Physics C Mechanics FRQ – Exam Style Questions etc.

Simple and Physical Pendulums AP  Physics C Mechanics FRQ

Unit 7: Oscillations

Weightage : 10-15%

AP Physics C Mechanics Exam Style Questions – All Topics

Question

A small dart of mass 0.020 kg is launched at an angle of 30° above the horizontal with an initial speed of 10 m/s. At the moment it reaches the highest point in its path and is moving horizontally, it collides with and sticks to a wooden block of mass 0.10 kg that is suspended at the end of a massless string. The center of mass of the block is 1.2 m below the pivot point of the string. The block and dart then swing up until the string makes an angle θ with the vertical, as shown above. Air resistance is negligible.
(a) Determine the speed of the dart just before it strikes the block.
(b) Calculate the horizontal distance d between the launching point of the dart and a point on the floor directly below the block.
(c) Calculate the speed of the block just after the dart strikes.
(d) Calculate the angle θ through which the dart and block on the string will rise before coming momentarily to rest.
(e) The block then continues to swing as a simple pendulum. Calculate the time between when the dart collides with the block and when the block first returns to its original position.
(f) In a second experiment, a dart with more mass is launched at the same speed and angle. The dart collides with and sticks to the same wooden block.
i. Would the angle θ that the dart and block swing to increase, decrease, or stay the same?
_____ Increase _____ Decrease _____ Stay the same
Justify your answer.
ii. Would the period of oscillation after the collision increase, decrease, or stay the same?
_____ Increase _____ Decrease _____ Stay the same
Justify your answer.

Answer/Explanation

Ans:

(a)

Vtop = ?

Vtop, y = O m/s because top of protectory

Vtop,x only speed: Vo cosθ  = 10 m/s (Cos 300) = 8,66 m/s

(b)

d = ?                        Vtop, y = O,                              V0, y  = V0sin 300

d = Vx (t)                                                             \(\frac{V_{0}y}{g}=t\)

d = 8.66 m/s × 0.51s                                        \(t = \frac{V_{0}sin30^{0}}{g}=0.51s\)

(c)

Vblock = ?

Cons. of angular momentum:

Li = Lf

rmv = Iw,     \(w = \frac{v}{r}\)                                     M = mdart + Mblock

\(rmv = MR^{2}(\frac{V}{R})\)

mdart (V0)  = mdart + Mblock) (Vt)

10 m/s (OtoZ)  = (0.oz + 0.1) (Vf)

Vf = 1.67 m/s

(d)

θ = ?

\(\frac{1}{2}mv^{2}=mgh\)

\(\frac{1}{2}(V_{f})^{2}=gh\)                         \(\frac{1}{2}(1.67 m/s)^{2}=9.81 m/s (h)\)

h = 0.14 m

\(cos\theta = \frac{a}{L}\)

\(cos\theta = \frac{1.2 m – h}{1.2 m}\)

\(cos\theta = \frac{1.2 – 0.14m}{1.2 m}\)

\(\theta = 28.2^{0}\)

(e)

Time  = T/2

\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{q}} \)       simple pendulum

\(\frac{T}{2} = \pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{q}} \)

\(\frac{T}{2} = \pi \sqrt{\frac{1.2}{9.81}} \Rightarrow T/2 = 1.15\)

(f) i.

  x   Decrease

because the final velocity would be less and thus answer angle;

ii.   x   Stay the same

\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g} }\) the period would stay the same because the length and a stays the same despite change in mass

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