School of Engineering and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department

School Year 2020-2021

Energy and
Momentum
Lecture 5 – Dynamics of Rigid Bodies – Answer Key

Objective To provide students with complete set of solutions as a guide,

especially to those who prefers to just listen to the discussion
instead of jotting down notes.

Content Complete solutions for sample problems of the following:

• Conservation of Energy
• Conservation of Momentum
• Impact

References L.G. Kraige and J.L. Meriam, (2012). Engineering Mechanics

Volume 2 Dynamics 7th Edition. Massachusetts, USA: John Wiley
& Sons, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler, (2010). Engineering Mechanics Statics & Dynamics

Twelfth Edition. New Jersey, USA: Pearson Prentice Hall

1
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

I. CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

Sample Problem 1:
The 8-kg block is moving with an initial speed of 5 m/s. If
the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and
plane is μk = 0.25, determine the compression in the spring
when the block momentarily stops.

Given:
Mass, m = 8 kg
Coefficient of kinetic friction, μk = 0.25
Initial Velocity, vo = 5 m/s

Required:
Compression in the spring when the block momentarily stops

Solution:

Free Body Diagram:

Normal Force:

𝑁𝑁 = 𝑊𝑊
𝑁𝑁 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑚𝑚
𝑁𝑁 = (8 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘) (9.81 ) = 78.48 𝑁𝑁
𝑠𝑠2

Frictional Force:

𝑓𝑓 = 𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇
𝑓𝑓 = 0.25(78.48) = 19.62 𝑁𝑁

Conservation of Energy Formula:

∑ 𝑈𝑈𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = ∆𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 + ∆𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 + ∆𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸

2
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020
1
𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(ℎ − ℎ ) + 1 𝑚𝑚(𝑣𝑣
2
− 𝑣𝑣 2) + 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘2
𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖
2 2

1 1
−19.62(2 + 𝑠𝑠) = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(0 − 0) + (8)(0 − 52) + (200)(𝑠𝑠2)
2 2

−39.24 − 19.62𝑠𝑠 = −100 + 100(𝑠𝑠2)

100𝑠𝑠2 + 19.62𝑠𝑠 = 60.76

𝑠𝑠 = 0.6875357998

𝑠𝑠 = −0.8837357998

𝐹𝐹𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

𝐹𝐹𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 200(0.6875357998)

𝐹𝐹𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 137.50715996 𝑁𝑁 = 137.5072 𝑁𝑁

3
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

II. CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM

Sample Problem 2:
The 50-kg boy jumps on the 5-kg skateboard with a
horizontal velocity of 5 m/s. Determine the distance s the
boy reaches up the inclined plane before momentarily
coming to rest. Neglect the skateboard’s rolling resistance.

Given:
Mass of the boy, mA = 50 kg
Mass of the skateboard, mB = 5 kg
Velocity, v = 5 m/s

Required:
Distance s the boy reaches up the inclined plane before momentarily coming to rest

Solution:
Free Body Diagram:

50(5) + 5(0) = (50 + 5)𝑣𝑣′

50(5)
𝑣𝑣′ =
50 + 5
𝑚𝑚
𝑣𝑣′ = 4.5454545454545454545
𝑠𝑠
∑ 𝐹𝐹30 = 0

𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊30 + 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 0

(50 + 5)(9.81)(𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠30) + (50 + 5)𝑎𝑎 = 0

(50 + 5)(9.81)(𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠30)
𝑎𝑎 = −
(50 + 5)
𝑚𝑚
𝑎𝑎 = −4.905 2
𝑠𝑠

4
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

Notice that the acceleration is constant because there was no force added nor any more effort to
go up the ramp. Therefore, we can use the formula of kinematics for constant acceleration:

𝑣𝑣2 = 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜2 + 2𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

02 = 4.54545454545454545452 + 2(−4.905)(𝑠𝑠)

4.54545454545454545452
𝑠𝑠 =
2(4.905)

𝑠𝑠 = 2.1061 𝑚𝑚

III. IMPACT

Sample Problem 3:
Ball B shown has a mass of 1.5 kg and is suspended from the
ceiling by a 1-m-long elastic cord. If the cord is stretched
downward 0.25 m and the ball is released from rest, determine
how far the cord stretches after the ball rebounds from the
ceiling. The stiffness of the cord is k = 800 N/m and the
coefficient of restitution between the ball and ceiling is e =
0.8. The ball makes a central impact with the ceiling.

Given:
mass of ball B, mB = 1.5 kg
Original length of cord = 1m
Change in length of cord after stretching = 0.25m
Stiffness of the cord, k = 800 N/m
Coefficient of restitution, e = 0.8

Required:
How far the cord stretches after the ball rebounds from the ceiling.

5
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

Solution:
First we must obtain the velocity of the ball just before
it strikes the ceiling using energy methods, then
consider the impulse and momentum between the ball
and ceiling, and finally again use energy methods to
determine the stretch in the cord.

With the datum located as shown, realizing that

initially, y = 1+0.25 = 1.25m

∑ 𝑈𝑈𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = ∆𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 + ∆𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 + ∆𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸

1
= 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(ℎ − ℎ ) + 1 𝑚𝑚(𝑣𝑣
2
∑ 𝑈𝑈 − 𝑣𝑣 2) + 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘2
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖
2 2
0 = 1.5(9.81)((−1.25) − 0) + 1 (1.5)(𝑣𝑣 2 − 02) + 1 (800)(0.252)
2 𝑓𝑓 2
1 1
1.5(9.81)(1.25) − (800)(0.252) = (1.5)(𝑣𝑣 2)
𝑓𝑓
2 2
1
( )( ) 2
1.5 9.81 1.25 − (800)(0.25 )
𝑣𝑣𝑓𝑓 = √ 2
1
2 (1.5)
𝑚𝑚
𝑣𝑣𝑓𝑓 = 2.968
𝑠𝑠
𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢

The interaction of the ball with the ceiling will now be

considered using the principles of impact. *Since an unknown
portion of the mass of the ceiling is involved in the impact, the
conservation of momentum for the ball–ceiling system will not
be written. The “velocity” of this portion of ceiling is zero since
it (or the earth) are assumed to remain at rest both before and
after impact.

6
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵)2 − (𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴)2
𝑒𝑒 =
(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴)1 − (𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵)1
(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵)2 − 0
0.8 =
0 − 2.968

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵)2 = 0.8(−2.968)

𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚
(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵)2 = −2.374 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 2.374
𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠
The maximum stretch s3 in the cord can be determined by again applying the conservation of
energy equation to the ball just after collision. Assuming that y = 1 + s3

∑ 𝑈𝑈𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = ∆𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 + ∆𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 + ∆𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸

1
= 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(ℎ − ℎ ) + 1 𝑚𝑚(𝑣𝑣
2
∑ 𝑈𝑈 − 𝑣𝑣 2) + 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘2
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖
2 2

0 = 1.5(9.81){[−(1 + 𝑠𝑠 )] − 0} + 1 (1.5)(02 − 2.3742) + 1 (800)(𝑠𝑠 2)

3 3
2 2

1.5(9.81)(1) + 1.5(9.81)(𝑠𝑠 ) − 1 (800)(𝑠𝑠 2) = 1 (1.5)[−(2.3742)]

3 3
2 2

1 (800)(𝑠𝑠 2) − 1.5(9.81)(𝑠𝑠 ) = 1.5(9.81)(1) − 1 (1.5)[−(2.3742)]

3 3
2 2

400𝑠𝑠32 − 14.715𝑠𝑠3 = 18.941907

7
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

𝑠𝑠3 = 0.236781244𝑚𝑚

𝑠𝑠3 = −0.199993744𝑚𝑚

Sample Problem 4:

Two smooth disks A and B, having a mass of 1 kg and 2 kg,

respectively, collide with the velocities shown. If the coefficient
of restitution for the disks is e = 0.75, determine the x and y
components of the final velocity of each disk just after
collision.
Given:
mass of disk A, mA = 1 kg
mass of disk B, mB = 2 kg
vA1 = 3 m/s
vB1 = 1 m/s
ϕ1 = 45o
ϴ1 = 30o
Coefficient of restitution, e = 0.75

Required:
x and y components of the final velocity of each disk just after collision.

Solution:

This problem involves oblique impact. Why? In order to solve it, we have established the x and y
axes along the line of impact and the plane of contact as shown in the illustration of the problem.

Resolving each of the initial velocities into x and y components, we have:

(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)1 = 3𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐30 = 2.598 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠

(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴) 1 = 3𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠30 = 1.50 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)1 = −1𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐45 = −0.7071 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠

8
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵) = −1𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠45 = −0.7071 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠

1

The four unknown velocity components after

collision are assumed to act in the positive
directions. Since the impact occurs in the x
direction (line of impact), the conservation of
momentum for both disks can be applied in this
direction.

Conservation of “x” Momentum. In reference

to the momentum diagrams, we have:

𝑚𝑚𝐴𝐴(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)1 + 𝑚𝑚𝐵𝐵(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)1 = 𝑚𝑚𝐴𝐴(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2 + 𝑚𝑚𝐵𝐵(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2

1(2.598) + 2(−0.7071) = 1(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2 + 2(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2

(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2 + 2(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2 = 1.184 → 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒′𝑛𝑛 1

Coefficient of Restitution (x).

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2 − (𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2
𝑒𝑒 =
(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)1 − (𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)1

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2 − (𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2
0.75 =
2.598 − (−0.7071)

9
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies School of Engineering

Lecture 5 – Answer Key and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department
School Year 2019-2020

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2 − (𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2 = 2.479 → 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒′𝑛𝑛 2

Solving eq’n 1 and 2 simultaneously, we get:

𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚
(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2 = −1.26 = 1.26 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙.
𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠

(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2 = 1.22 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠

Conservation of “y” Momentum.

(𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)1 = (𝑣𝑣𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)2 = 1.50 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠

𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚
(𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵) 1 = (𝑣𝑣𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵) 2 = −0.7071 = 0.7071 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠

10