Centre of Mass 3 Question 7
10. Three blocks and are lying on a smooth horizontal surface as shown in the figure. and have equal masses while has mass . Block is given an initial speed towards due to which it collides with perfectly inelastically. The combined mass collides with , also perfectly inelastically th of the initial kinetic energy is lost in whole process. What is value of ?
(2019 Main, 9 Jan I)
(a) 4
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 5
Show Answer
Answer:
Correct Answer: 10. (a)
Solution:
- Key Idea For a perfectly inelastic collision, the momentum of the system remains conserved but there is some of loss of kinetic energy. Also, after collision the objects of the system are stuck to each other and move as a combined system.
Initially, block
Now,
Then, if this combined system is collided inelastically again with the block
So, now the velocity of system be
Thus, according to the principle of conservation of momentum,
initial momentum of the system
Initial kinetic energy of the system,
Final kinetic energy of the system,
Dividing Eq. (iii) and Eq. (ii), we get
It is given that
Comparing Eq. (iv) and Eq. (v), we get