Elasticity

Q. A rubber cord catapult has cross-sectional area 25mm2 and initial length of rubber cord is 10cm. It is stretched to 5cm. and then released to project a missile of mass 5gm. Taking Yrubber = 5 x 108 N/m2, find the velocity of the projected missile.

Please explain your answer. [1]

5 Answers

1
subradeep ·

nice ques ashish

62
Lokesh Verma ·

this question is quite simple I think...

assuming that the contact between the catapult rubber and the stone is lost at the end..

you have to apply stress/ strain = Y

then stress = F/A

A is on the average a constant (Another wrong assumption but I am sure the questin uses this assumption)

Now you will be able to find F (for different values of Strain... thus for different extensions)

Now simply use F=ma..

integrate both sides (since F is a function of extension)

To get final velocity...

30
Ashish Kothari ·

Thank you sir.

I got the answer by another method.

The elastic potential energy of the rubber cord catapult finally gets converted into the kinetic energy of the stone.

EPE = 1/2 x F x Δl

Now,

F = YAΔl/l

= 5 x 10-8 x 25 x 10-6 x 5 / 10

= (25)2 x 10

1/2 x F x Δl = 1/2 x m x v2

(25)2 x 10 x 5 x 10-2 = 5 x 10-3 x v2

v= 250 m/s

62
Lokesh Verma ·

@Asish.. are these two different methods? ;)

Think of why not :D

I was thinking of posting this one too.. but thought you would figure out that they are one and the same :P

30
Ashish Kothari ·

:D

I just used the result of what you said. :)

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