JEE Challenger
More from Work, Energy and Power

Speed of Inelastic Block Striking Second Inclined Plane

Comprehension Passage

Paragraph for Question Nos. 44 to 46

A small block of mass M\text{M} moves on a frictionless surface of an inclined plane, as shown in figure.

Passage Diagram 0

The angle of the incline suddenly changes from 60∘60^\circ to 30∘30^\circ at point B\text{B}. The block is initially at rest at A\text{A}. Assume that collisions between the block and the incline are totally inelastic (g=10 m/s2g = 10\text{ m/s}^2).

The speed of the block at point B\text{B} immediately after it strikes the second incline is

Options

A

60 m/s\sqrt{60}\text{ m/s}

B

45 m/s\sqrt{45}\text{ m/s}

Correct
C

30 m/s\sqrt{30}\text{ m/s}

D

15 m/s\sqrt{15}\text{ m/s}

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the speed of the block at point B\text{B} immediately after it strikes the second incline, we proceed in two steps:

Step 1: Speed of the block just before striking the second incline at point B\text{B}

The first inclined plane makes an angle of θ1=60∘\theta_1 = 60^\circ with the horizontal, and the horizontal span under it is x1=3 mx_1 = \sqrt{3}\text{ m}.

The vertical height through which the block descends from point A\text{A} to point B\text{B} is:
h1=x1tan⁡(60∘)=3×3=3 mh_1 = x_1 \tan(60^\circ) = \sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3} = 3\text{ m}

Since the incline is frictionless and the block starts from rest at A\text{A}, by the conservation of mechanical energy:
mgh1=12mv12mgh_1 = \frac{1}{2}mv_1^2
v1=2gh1=2×10×3=60 m/sv_1 = \sqrt{2gh_1} = \sqrt{2 \times 10 \times 3} = \sqrt{60}\text{ m/s}

Here, v1v_1 is directed along the first incline, at an angle of 60∘60^\circ below the horizontal.


Step 2: Collision with the second incline at point B\text{B}

The second incline makes an angle of θ2=30∘\theta_2 = 30^\circ with the horizontal. Therefore, the angle α\alpha between the first incline and the second incline is:
α=θ1−θ2=60∘−30∘=30∘\alpha = \theta_1 - \theta_2 = 60^\circ - 30^\circ = 30^\circ

During the impact at B\text{B}, the impulsive normal force exerted by the second incline acts perpendicular to the surface of the second incline. Because the surface is frictionless, there is no impulsive force along the direction parallel to the second incline.

Furthermore, the collision is given to be completely inelastic, which means the component of velocity perpendicular to the second incline becomes zero immediately after impact:
v⊥=0v_{\perp} = 0

The component of velocity parallel to the second incline is conserved during the impact:
v2=v1cos⁡α=v1cos⁡(30∘)v_2 = v_1 \cos \alpha = v_1 \cos(30^\circ)

Substituting the values:
v2=60×32=60×34=15×3=45 m/sv_2 = \sqrt{60} \times \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} = \sqrt{60 \times \frac{3}{4}} = \sqrt{15 \times 3} = \sqrt{45}\text{ m/s}

Therefore, the speed of the block immediately after it strikes the second incline is 45 m/s\sqrt{45}\text{ m/s}, which corresponds to Option (B).