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Ch 11: Impulse and Momentum
Chapter 11, Problem 11

A 600 g air-track glider collides with a spring at one end of the track. FIGURE EX11.13 shows the glider's velocity and the force exerted on the glider by the spring. How long is the glider in contact with the spring?

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1
Identify the initial velocity of the glider and the force exerted by the spring from the graph provided in FIGURE EX11.13.
Use the impulse-momentum theorem, which states that the impulse on an object is equal to the change in its momentum. The impulse can be calculated by integrating the force over the time interval during which the force is applied.
Set up the integral of the force with respect to time to find the total impulse exerted on the glider by the spring. This integral will be equal to the area under the force vs. time curve from the graph.
Calculate the change in momentum of the glider using the formula \( \Delta p = m \Delta v \), where \( m \) is the mass of the glider and \( \Delta v \) is the change in velocity (from initial velocity to zero, as the glider comes to a stop).
Solve for the time interval by equating the impulse (from step 3) to the change in momentum (from step 4) and solving for the time duration during which the force was applied.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Conservation of Momentum

The conservation of momentum states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an event (like a collision) is equal to the total momentum after the event. This principle is crucial for analyzing collisions, as it allows us to relate the velocities of the glider and the spring before and after the interaction.
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Hooke's Law

Hooke's Law describes the behavior of springs, stating that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to its displacement from the equilibrium position, expressed as F = -kx, where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement. Understanding this law is essential for determining the force acting on the glider during its contact with the spring.
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Impulse and Momentum Change

Impulse is defined as the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a period of time. The relationship between impulse and momentum change is given by the equation Impulse = Force × Time. This concept is key to calculating how long the glider is in contact with the spring, as it relates the force exerted by the spring to the change in the glider's momentum.
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