Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Announcements:

Assignments:

Chapter 8 - Potential Energy

Conservation of Energy:  
Ei = Ef = mechanical energy + Wnc
Gravitational potential energy:  
Eg = mgh
Elastic potential energy:
 Es = 0.5kx^2  , note: The stiffness of a spring (k) depends on the length of the spring (how many coils).
Work done by non-conservative forces cannot be easily converted to mechanical energy:  friction, heat, sound, etc.

Book problems: 7.68, 7.69

Example problems: 14, 24; 20, 40, 84 

Demo: Loop-the-loop: What initial height is required for a ball to just barely complete the loop? Why is this answer different than in the homework problem?

ConcepTest questions for Chapter 8

Chapter 9:  Momentum and Collisions

Newton's Second Law (as Newton defined it):  F = dp/dt

Momentum (linear) is defined as:  p = mv

If no external forces act on a system, momentum is conserved (constant): pi = pf
A 2-dimensional collision can be analyzed along x and y axes.

Impulse = F*t = change in momentum

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.
In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
Most collisions are partially elastic/inelastic.

Demos:

Example Problem:  If you jump up in the air to a height, h, how much force does the ground exert on you when you land?  What do you need to know?

Solution:  You need to know the distance your body moves as you bend your knees:  x ~ 0.5 m
From conservation of energy, your speed just before touching the ground is:  v = sqrt(2gh).
From here, you can take two different approaches to solve this problem:

Conservation of energy:  work done by ground = change in kinetic energy
    F*x = 0.5mv2
    F = mv2/(2x)

Conservation of momentum:  impulse = change in momentum
    F*t = mv
    x = 0.5at2  and v2 = 2ax, so t = 2x/v
    so  F = mv2/(2x)   - same as above for conserv. of energy

What is the maximum height a person can fall without suffering severe injury?
(see also problem 50 in chapter 5).
Human acceleration response data