UC3M Physics I
PROBLEMS 5 Work and energy
1. A block of 2 kg leaves from rest in the point A (top) of the track of the figure. The block slides until it reaches the
point B with a velocity of 4 m/s. From B it moves horizontally a distance of 3 m till the point C, where it stops.
a) What is the energy dissipated by the
friction force while the block slipped from
A till B?
b) Which is the coefficient of kinetic friction
on the horizontal surface?
Sol: a) 3.6 J, b) 0.272
2. A block of m = 20 kg goes up an incline making an angle of 30˚ with the horizontal. In a point at a height h
regarding the floor its speed is 12 m/s. If the block, after a certain time, reaches that same point with a speed of
6 m/s, calculate:
a) the coefficient of kinetic friction between the plan and the block.
b) the range of possible values for the coefficient of static friction.
Sol: a) 0.35; b) 0.35< µS<0.58.
3. A 3 kg block of stone slips down an incline of 30˚ from a height h =3.4 m. At the end of the incline there is a
horizontal spring of elastic constant 400 N/m.
a) Supposing that there is no friction force, calculate the maximum
distance that the spring is compressed.
b) Supposing that there is friction force between the block and the
incline, calculate the maximum distance that the spring is
compressed. (µ=0.20).
c) Calculate the potential energy stored in the spring when it is compressed in each case.
d) How much energy has been dissipated due to the friction force?
Sol: a) 0.71 m, b) 0.57 m, c) 100 J and 65.4 J, d) 34.6 J
4. The ball has a mass of 0.5 kg and is suspended from a rubber band having an
unstretched length of 1m and a stiffness k=50N/m. If the support A to which the
rubber band is attached is 2m from the floor, determine the greatest speed the ball
can have at A so that it does not touch the floor when it reaches the lower point B.
Neglect the size of the ball and the mass of the rubber band.
Sol: v=7.79m/s.
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UC3M Physics I
5. A small box is given a speed of √𝑔𝑟/4 at the top of the smooth half cylinder. Determine the angle θ at which the
box leaves the cylinder.
Sol : θ=41.4°
6. A fireman of 80 kg wants to climb to the roof of a building of 10 m height transporting 80 kg of sand. He tries to
jump from the top of a 2 m wall with the help of a rope. The wall is located at 4 m of the building. Knowing that
the rope supports a maximum tension of 1750 N, calculate:
a) At which angle with the vertical does the rope break?
b) Determine if the fireman falls to the floor, or if he collides with the
building.
c) How long does it takes from the instant when the rope breaks to the fireman
instant when the fireman touches the floor or the building?
Hint: consider the fireman as a point mass.
Sol: a) αmin = 14.5, b) the soldier collides with the floor; c) 0.44 s.
7. The 0.5 kg ball of negligible size is fired up the smooth vertical circular track using the spring plunger. The
plunger keeps the spring uncompressed when s=0. Determine how far s should the spring be compressed so that
the ball begin to leave the track when =135°.
Sol: s=0.246m
8. Calculate the energy needed to place in orbit a satellite of mass m at a height h over the Earth’s surface in
function of the mass M of the Earth and its radius R. Neglect the kinetic energy of the satellite before the launch
due to Earth rotation. Obtain its value for h=1000 km, m=10 kg, (M=5.97 x 1024 kg, G=6.673 x 10-11 m3kg-1s-2,
R=6378 km).
Sol: mMG(R+2h)/[2R(R+h)], 3.55 x 108 J.