Question:
A curved surface as shown in the figure. The portion BCD is free of friction. There are three spherical balls of identical radii and masses. Balls are released from one by one from A which is at a slightly greater height than C. with the surface AB, ball 1 has large enough friction to cause rolling down without slipping; ball 2 has a small friction and ball 3 has a negligible friction.
(a) for which balls is total mechanical energy conserved?
b) which ball can reach D?
c) for balls which do not reach D, which of the balls can reach back A?
Solution:
(a) For ball 1 the total mechanical energy is conserved
(b) Ball 1 reaches D
(c) Ball 3 reaches back A