Dr. Claw tricks Inspector Gadget into stepping off an l-beam suspended from a sk

Question

Dr. Claw tricks Inspector Gadget into stepping off an l-beam suspended from a skyscraper construction site. For most of us, this would be a big problem. Luckily, Inspector Gadget's legs are made of springs, each with a spring constant of k = 8.5 kN/m and a resting length of 5 m to cushion him when he hits the ground. Assume that a) Inspector Gadget can be modeled as a block whose mass is 70 kg (see Figure) b) His body's center of mass is 0.5 m above its connection with his spring legs negligible the ground COM c) The mass of his legs/springs is 0.5 m d) No energy is lost when his feet hit e) His body does not deform If the center of mass of his body is 200 m off the ground and his leg springs are at resting length when he steps off the l-beam, Inspector how far from the ground is Inspector Gadget Model of Inspector Gadget Gadget's center of mass when he comes to a safe (but brief) stop?

Explanation / Answer

Let it be x above the ground.

By enegy conservaton

decrease in gravitational PE = increase in Spring PE

mg (h-x) = 0.5 k (5+0.5-x)^2

70*9.8*(200-x) = 0.5*2*8500 * (5+0.5-x)^2

Solving the equation, x= 1.497 m answer

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse D
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.