- #1
byu
- 4
- 0
Homework Statement
A 1.50 kg ball and a 2.00 kg ball are glued together with the lighter
one below the heavier one. The upper ball is attached to a vertical ideal
spring of force constant 165 N/m and the system is vibrating vertically with
amplitude 15.0 cm. The glue connecting the balls is old and weak, and it
suddenly comes loose when the balls are at the lowest position in their
motion. Find the amplitude of the vibrations after the lower ball has come loose.
Homework Equations
ΣF=ma
W=mg
Fs=-kx
m1=1.5kg
m2=2kg
The Attempt at a Solution
∑F=ma
-kx1-(m1+m2)g=0
x1=(m1+m2)g/k
x1= .2079m
.15m+x1=.3579m
x2=(m2)g/k
x2=.11879m
.3579m - .11879m = .239m
Even after solving it, I do not really understand what is going on in the problem. Why is x=.2079 with both of them attached, when the amplitude is .15m?