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Stewart,
College Physics for the AP® Physics 1 Course, 2e
© 2019 W. H. Freeman and Company/BFW Publishers
Handout 12.2
A Collision in Simple Harmonic Motion
A block of mass M attached to a horizontal spring of force constant k is moving with simple
harmonic motion of amplitude A1 and period T1. At the instant it passes through its equilibrium
position, a lump of clay also of mass M is dropped vertically onto the block from a very small
height and sticks to it.
(a) Let the period of motion with the clay on the block be T2 and the amplitude be A2.
i. Calculate the ratio T2/T1.
ii. Calculate the ratio A2/A1.
(b) Was there a loss of mechanical energy? It so, where did it go? Calculate the ratio
between E1, the mechanical energy of the block-spring system and E2 the mechanical energy of
the block-clay-spring system.
(c) Would the answers to part (a) be the same if the clay had been dropped on the block when
it was at one end of its path? Explain (with calculations or words).
ME
T2T after before the m2
T25276 2Mt Ni the 6m
he fri
Usf Usi
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A
yes in inelasticcollisions kinetic energy is lost whichyieldsto
alowerspring potentialenergy Energy was lost during the
deformation of the clay
kinetic energy E2 E
the answerin part awouldbe different because thespring is no
longer in equilibrium when the mass changesthe period
and disrupts the conservation of energy
