Question
Question: The bob of a simple pendulum (mass m and length l) dropped from a horizontal position strikes a bloc...
The bob of a simple pendulum (mass m and length l) dropped from a horizontal position strikes a block of the same mass elastically placed on a horizontal frictionless table. The K.E. of the block will be
A
2 mgl
B
mgl/2
C
mgl
D
0
Answer
mgl
Explanation
Solution
P.E. of bob at point A = mgl
This amount of energy will be converted into kinetic energy
∴ K.E. of bob at point B = mgl
and as the collision between bob and block (of same mass) is elastic so after collision bob will come to rest and total Kinetic energy will be transferred to block. So kinetic energy of block = mgl