Question

An ideal spring is mounted horizontally, with its left end fixed. The force constant of the spring is 170 N/m. A glider of mass 1.2 kg is attached to the free end of the spring. The glider is pulled toward the right along a frictionless air track, and then released. Now the glider is moving in simple harmonic motion with amplitude 0.045 m. The motion is horizontal (one-dimensional).

Suddenly, Slimer holding an apple flies in and approaches the glider. Slimer drops the apple vertically onto the glider from a very small height. The apple sticks to the glider. The mass of the apple is 0.18 kg.
Recall that the total mechanical energy is E = 1/2 mv^2 + 1/2 kx^2 = 1/2 kA^2 = constant
(a) Calculate the new amplitude of the motion of the glider with apple if the apple is dropped at the moment when the glider passes through its equilibrium position, x = 0 m.
Hints: The total energy of the glider just before the collision is E = 1/2mglider v^2 = 1/2KA^2
The apple sticks to the glider in a completely inelastic collision. The glider is now moving with the apple but at a lower speed. The linear momentum is conserved. Write a corresponding equation.
Also, assume that the collision is very short, so just before the collision the glider is at x = 0 m, and just after the collision the glider and apple are still at x = 0 m. Therefore, the total energy of the glider just after the collision is Enew = 1/2mglider + applev^2new = 1/2kA^2new
(b) Calculate the period of the motion of the glider and the period of the motion of the glider with apple.
Hint: it's a very simple question.

Answer 1

A) The new amplitude = 0.048 m

B) Period T = 0.6 seconds

Explanation: Please find the attached files for the solution