Question

(b) After sliding across the horizontal portion of the track, both disks slide partway up the curved section of the track. Identify which disk, if either, reaches a greater maximum height. If both disks reach the same maximum height, state this explicitly.

(c) In a clear, coherent paragraph-length response, justify your answer to part (b).



(d) Consider the case where friction is not negligible and the coefficient of kinetic friction between each disk and the track is the same. The disks are again pushed by the same force over the same distance, and each disk slides partway up the ramp. Identify which disk, if either, would reach a greater maximum height than the other in this case. If both disks reach the same maximum height in this case, state this explicitly. Briefly justify your answer.

Answer 1

(b) In this case, both disks reach the same maximum height.

(d) In this case, the disk with larger mass would reach a greater maximum height than the lighter disk because the gravitational force will be greater and this would be greater than the frictional force that opposes the motion. Therefore, the greater mass disk will be able to overcome the frictional force and reach a greater maximum height.