The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

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Abdul Muntakim Rafi
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The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

Unread post by Abdul Muntakim Rafi » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:30 pm

A 60 kg farmer ropes a 300 kg ox. Both are initially at rest, 24 m apart on a frictionless level surface. When farmer ends up pulling the ox towards him, the ox will move

A) 4m, B) 5m, C) 12m, D) 20m, E) 24m .

What do you think?
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Re: The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

Unread post by nafistiham » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:09 pm

i think it is $24$m
\[\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}e^{\frac{2 \pi i k}{n}}=0\]
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tanvirab
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Re: The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

Unread post by tanvirab » Sat Nov 12, 2011 3:35 am

Since there is no friction, there will be equal and opposite forces on the ox and the farmer. So they will move towards each other and collide. Their acceleration will be force/mass. Since you know the acceleration of both (and that they were at rest at the beginning) you can use S.S.C. Newtonian physics to find at what distance they will collide.

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Abdul Muntakim Rafi
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Re: The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

Unread post by Abdul Muntakim Rafi » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:31 am

Yeah... $4$ m...
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Re: The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

Unread post by raihan khan » Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:41 pm

they will collide in the center of mass of their system as there is no external force.

tanvirab
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Re: The dilemma of Frictionless Surface

Unread post by tanvirab » Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:45 pm

raihan khan wrote:they will collide in the center of mass of their system as there is no external force.
Very nice solution :)

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