Question

Consider a small frictionless puck perched at the top of a xed sphere of radius R. If the puck is given a tiny nudge so that it begins to slide down, through what vertical height will it descend before it leaves the surface of the sphere?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Let the vertical height by which it descends be h . Let it acquire velocity of v .

1/2 mv² = mgh

v² = 2gh

As it leaves the surface of sphere , reaction force of surface  R = 0 , so

centripetal force = mg cosθ where θ is the angular displacement from the vertex .  

mv² / r = mg cosθ

(m/r )x 2gh = mg cosθ

2h / r = cosθ

cosθ = (r-h) / r

2h / r =  r-h / r

2h = r-h

3h = r

h = r / 3