Two carts of masses m1= 0.5 kg and m2= 1.5 kg are resting on a horizontal surface. A massless spring is attached to the cart of mass m2, and the carts are pushed together with the spring between them. A string initially holding the carts together is cut; after that happens, the cart of mass m2 moves to the right with a speed of 2.0 m/ s. Assume that the surface is frictionless. (a) What is the velocity of the cart of mass m1? (b) Find the system’s original elastic potential energy. (c) Is the original energy in the spring or in the string? (d) Explain your answer to part (c). (e) Is the momentum of the system conserved in the bursting-apart process? Explain how that is possible considering (f) there are large forces acting and (g) there is no motion beforehand and plenty of motion afterward?
Two carts of masses m1= 0.5 kg and m2= 1.5 kg are resting on a horizontal surface. A massless
spring is attached to the cart of mass m2, and the carts are pushed together with the spring between them.
A string initially holding the carts together is cut; after that happens, the cart of mass m2 moves to the
right with a speed of 2.0 m/ s. Assume that the surface is frictionless. (a) What is the velocity of the cart
of mass m1? (b) Find the system’s original elastic potential energy. (c) Is the original energy in the
spring or in the string? (d) Explain your answer to part (c). (e) Is the momentum of the system conserved
in the bursting-apart process? Explain how that is possible considering (f) there are large forces acting
and (g) there is no motion beforehand and plenty of motion afterward?
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