alexjrgreen wrote:Apparently I wasn't sufficiently clear...
A mass of 1kg is hung from a pivot by a bar of length 1m. A mass of 2kg is hung from the same pivot by a bar of length 50cm. The 2kg mass is raised and released. What happens?
The short side with 2kg will fall a little and all the set will find horizontal equilibrium, 9h to 3h diameter.
Very simple.
Best!
Murilo
I'm pretty sure he assumes that the dimensions of both masses are large enough to cause collision. In that case it would seem to be a standard elastic collision of big moving mass versus stationary small mass.
The short armed heavy pendulum would rise slightly after collision while the long lighter one would rise significantly, but will not reach the 3/9 oclock position.
I understood a single pivot with 2 arms at 180deg, as a simple balance.
The momentum of 1kg with 1m is equivalent to 2kg with 0,50m.
9h/3h is the expected position for EQUILIBRIUM.
Best!
Muliro