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Grade 11Mechanics

a chain of mass m and length l is attached to a ball of mass m and is kept on a table such that the chain rests along its length.find the minimum speed that should be given to the ball so as to lift the entire chain.

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7 Years agoGrade 11
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ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer1 Year ago

To determine the minimum speed required for the ball to lift the entire chain off the table, we need to analyze the forces acting on the system and apply some principles of physics, particularly those related to energy and motion.

Understanding the System

We have a chain of mass \( m \) and length \( l \) attached to a ball of the same mass \( m \). The chain lies flat on the table, and we want to find the speed at which the ball must move to lift the chain entirely off the table.

Key Concepts to Consider

  • Gravitational Force: The weight of the chain acts downward due to gravity.
  • Kinetic Energy: The ball must have enough kinetic energy to overcome the gravitational potential energy of the chain.
  • Acceleration: The ball's speed will determine how quickly it can lift the chain.

Analyzing Forces and Energy

When the ball moves, it exerts a force on the chain. To lift the chain, the ball must provide enough upward force to counteract the weight of the chain. The weight of the chain can be expressed as:

Weight of the chain (W) = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g)

Thus, the weight of the chain is \( W = mg \).

Energy Considerations

To lift the chain, the ball must convert its kinetic energy into potential energy. The potential energy required to lift the chain to a height equal to its length \( l \) is given by:

Potential Energy (PE) = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g) × height (h)

In this case, the height \( h \) is equal to the length of the chain \( l \), so:

PE = mg \cdot l

Setting Up the Equation

The kinetic energy (KE) of the ball can be expressed as:

KE = (1/2)mv²

To lift the chain, the kinetic energy of the ball must be equal to the potential energy required to lift the chain:

(1/2)mv² = mg \cdot l

Solving for Minimum Speed

We can simplify this equation by canceling the mass \( m \) from both sides (assuming \( m \) is not zero):

(1/2)v² = gl

Now, multiplying both sides by 2 gives:

v² = 2gl

Taking the square root of both sides, we find:

v = √(2gl)

Final Result

The minimum speed that should be given to the ball in order to lift the entire chain off the table is:

v = √(2gl)

This equation indicates that the speed required depends on both the gravitational acceleration \( g \) (approximately \( 9.81 \, \text{m/s}² \) on Earth) and the length of the chain \( l \). The longer the chain, the greater the speed needed to lift it completely.