Q25 Two inclined frictionless tracks, one gradual and the other steep meet at A from where two stones are allowed to slide down from rest, one on each track (Fig. 6.16). Will the stones reach the bottom at the same time? Will they reach there with the same speed? Explain. Given h = 10 m, what are the speeds and times taken by the two stones?
The FBD of the track is shown in the figure below :
Using the law of conservation of energy we have :
or
Hence both stones will reach the bottom with the same speed.
For stone 1 we can write :
or
For stone 2 we have :
Also, using the equation of motion,
or
It is given that
or
Thus
Hence, the stone travelling on the steep plane will reach before.
For finding speed and time we can use conservation of energy.
or
or
or
The time is given by :
and