Problem 8.14

Please wait for the animation to completely load.

A spring that is attached to the end of a cart is compressed, and the cart is placed next to another cart on a low-friction track.  The spring is released such that the two carts are "pushed" apart as shown in the animation (position is given in meters and time is given in seconds).  Restart.

1. Find the ratio of the green mass to the red mass.
2. Find the position of the center of mass.
3. Find the distance from each mass to the center of mass at time t = 0 s.

Instructor's Resource CD Edition: Do not post or distribute.
The complete version of Physlet Physics is available as a text with CD; Physlet Physics can be bundled with this Prentice Hall textbook.
© 2004 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Company