- #1
aiyiaiyiai
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- Homework Statement
- Two particles of equal mass (m) on a smooth horizontal table are connected by the a thin elastic string of natural length (a) in which a tension mg would produce an extension (a). The particles are held at rest at a distance (3a) apart.
i. Describe their motions between the time they are released and when they collide.
ii. If the particles are released simultaneously, calculate the time elapsed before they
collide, given a = 0.20 m.
- Relevant Equations
- F=kx
T=2*pi*sqrt(m/k)
I understand the masses will accelerate toward each other with the same varying speed before they reach the natural length of the spring. Then they continue to approach each other while compress the spring, that'll slow their speeds down definitely. So my question is, how could we calculate how long they take for the slowing-down process?