Three spheres, each of mass m, can slide freely on a frictionless, horizontal surface. Spheres A and B are attached to an inextensible, inelastic cord of length l and are at rest in the position shown when sphere B is struck squarely by sphere C which is moving with a velocity v0. Knowing that the cord is slack when sphere B is struck by sphere C and assuming perfectly elastic impact between B and C, determine

(a) The velocity of each sphere immediately after the cord becomes taut,

(b) The fraction of the initial kinetic energy of the system which is dissipated when the cord becomestaut.

Transcribed Image Text:

B 1/3