1991M1.

A small block of mass 2m initially rests on a track at the bottom of the circular, vertical loop-the-loop
shown above, which has a radius r. The surface contact between the block and the loop is frictionless. A
bullet of mass m strikes the block horizontally with initial speed v o and remains embedded in the block as the
block and bullet circle the loop. Determine each of the following in terms of m, v 0 r, and g.
a. The speed of the block and bullet immediately after impact
b. The kinetic energy of the block and bullet when they reach point P on the loop
c. The minimum initial speed v min of the bullet if the block and bullet are to successfully execute a complete
circuit of the loop

1991M3. The two blocks I and II shown above have masses m and 2m respectively. Block II has an ideal massless
spring attached to one side. When block I is placed on the spring as shown. the spring is compressed a distance
D at equilibrium. Express your answer to all parts of the question in terms of the given quantities and physical
constants.
a. Determine the spring constant of the spring

Later the two blocks are on a frictionless, horizontal surface. Block II is stationary and block I approaches with
a speed v o , as shown above.
b. The spring compression is a maximum when the blocks have the same velocity. Briefly explain why this is so.
c. Determine the maximum compression of the spring during the collision.
d. Determine the velocity of block II after the collision when block I has again separated from the spring.

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1992M1. A ball of mass 9m is dropped from rest from a height H = 5.0 meters above the ground, as shown above
on the left. It undergoes a perfectly elastic collision with the ground and rebounds. At the instant that the ball
rebounds, a small blob of clay of mass m is released from rest from the original height H, directly above the
ball, as shown above on the right. The clay blob, which is descending, eventually collides with the ball, which is
ascending. Assume that g = 10 m/s2, that air resistance is negligible, and that the collision process takes
negligible time.
a. Determine the speed of the ball immediately before it hits the ground.
b. Determine the time after the release of the clay blob at which the collision takes place.
c. Determine the height above the ground at which the collision takes place.
d. Determine the speeds of the ball and the clay blob immediately before the collision.
e. If the ball and the clay blob stick together on impact, what is the magnitude and direction of their velocity
immediately after the collision?

1993M1. A massless spring with force constant k = 400 newtons per meter is fastened at its left end to a vertical
wall, as shown in Figure 1. Initially, block C (mass m c = 4.0 kilograms) and block D (mass m D = 2.0
kilograms) rest on a horizontal surface with block C in contact with the spring (but not compressing it) and with
block D in contact with block C. Block C is then moved to the left, compressing the spring a distance of 0.50
meter, and held in place while block D remains at rest as shown in Figure 11. (Use g = 10 m/s2.)
a. Determine the elastic energy stored in the compressed spring.

Block C is then released and accelerates to the right, toward block D. The surface is rough and the coefficient of
friction between each block and the surface is µ = 0.4. The two blocks collide instantaneously, stick together,
and move to the right. Remember that the spring is not attached to block C. Determine each of the following.
b. The speed v c of block C just before it collides with block D
c. The speed v f blocks C and D just after they collide
d. The horizontal distance the blocks move before coming to rest

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1994M1. A 2-kilogram block and an 8-kilogram block are both attached to an ideal spring ( for which k = 200 N/m)
and both are initially at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface, as shown in the diagram above.
In an initial experiment, a 100-gram (0.1 kg) ball of clay is thrown at the 2-kilogram block. The clay is moving
horizontally with speed v when it hits and sticks to the block. The 8-kilogram block is held still by a removable
stop. As a result, the spring compresses a maximum distance of 0.4 meters.
a. Calculate the energy stored in the spring at maximum compression.
b. Calculate the speed of the clay ball and 2-kilogram block immediately after the clay sticks to the block but
before the spring compresses significantly.
c. Calculate the initial speed v of the clay.

In a second experiment, an identical ball of clay is thrown at another identical 2-kilogram block, but this time
the stop is removed so that the 8-kilogram block is free to move.
d. State whether the maximum compression of the spring will be greater than, equal to, or less than 0.4 meter.
Explain briefly.
e. State the principle or principles that can be used to calculate the velocity of the 8-kilogram block at the instant
that the spring regains its original length. Write the appropriate equation(s) and show the numerical
substitutions, but do not solve for the velocity.

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1995M1. A 5-kilogram ball initially rests at the edge of a 2-meter-long, 1.2-meter-high frictionless table, as shown
above. A hard plastic cube of mass 0.5 kilogram slides across the table at a speed of 26 meters per second and
strikes the ball, causing the ball to leave the table in the direction in which the cube was moving. The figure
below shows a graph of the force exerted on the ball by the cube as a function of time.

a. Determine the total impulse given to the ball.

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