Three perfectly elastic superballs are dropped simultaneously from rest at height (h_{0}) above a hard floor. They

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Three perfectly elastic superballs are dropped simultaneously from rest at height \(h_{0}\) above a hard floor. They are arranged vertically, in order of mass, with \(M_{1}>>\) \(M_{2}>M_{3}\), where \(M_{1}\) is at the bottom. There are small separations between the balls. When \(M_{1}\) strikes the floor it bounces back up elastically, striking \(M_{2}\) on its way down. \(M_{2}\) then bounces back up, striking \(M_{3}\) on its way down. What is the subsequent maximum altitude achieved by each ball? Hint: Analyze each collision in the CM frame of that collision, which is essentially the rest-frame of the heavier ball because the other ball is so much lighter. Neglect the balls' radii and the small separations between them.

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Modern Classical Mechanics

ISBN: 9781108834971

1st Edition

Authors: T. M. Helliwell, V. V. Sahakian

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