Does Bead B Always Reach d First? -- from Wolfram Library Archive

Title

Does Bead B Always Reach d First?

Authors

T. Zheng

K. Gonci

M. Imparato

C. Ursulet

K. Donovan

Journal / Anthology

The Physics Teacher

Year:

1995

Volume:

Page range:

376-377

Description

Question: Bead A slides along the positive x-axis with an initial speed and reaches position d. Bead B, with the same initial speed, slides along a curved wire beneath the x-axis under the influence of gravity and also reaches the position d as shown in Fig. 1. The path of bead B is a conventional curve such as a semicircle or a parabolic curve. Assuming the frictional force is negligible along both paths, which bead reaches d first?

Subject

Science > Physics > Mechanics

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