Students are performing an experiment with the setup shown above, where a block of mass M sits on a horizontal table. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the table is μk. The block is connected to a hanging object over a pulley. The pulley has negligible mass and friction. The string connecting the two is very light and does not stretch. The students add mass to the hanging object so that its mass is m, where m < M, and the block-hanging object system is released from rest. The hanging object falls for a distance h, at which point it collides with the ground and comes to rest. The block on the table keeps sliding and travels a total distance d before coming to rest. It does not reach the pulley, and d > h. Students notice that the acceleration due to gravity does not appear in the (d - h) equation in the image and assume that must be a mistake. Do you agree with them? Justify your answer
Students are performing an experiment with the setup shown above, where a block of mass M sits on a horizontal table. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the table is μk. The block is connected to a hanging object over a pulley. The pulley has negligible mass and friction. The string connecting the two is very light and does not stretch. The students add mass to the hanging object so that its mass is m, where m < M, and the block-hanging object system is released from rest. The hanging object falls for a distance h, at which point it collides with the ground and comes to rest. The block on the table keeps sliding and travels a total distance d before coming to rest. It does not reach the pulley, and d > h.
Students notice that the acceleration due to gravity does not appear in the (d - h) equation in the image and assume that must be a mistake. Do you agree with them? Justify your answer.
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