Ball on Loop-the-Loop Track · USAPhO 2016 #B1

Physics · mechanics

Problem

A uniform solid spherical ball starts from rest on a loop-the-loop track. It rolls without slipping along the track. However, it does not have enough speed to make it to the top of the loop. From what height hh would the ball need to start in order to land at point P directly underneath the top of the loop? Express your answer in terms of RR, the radius of the loop. Assume that the radius of the ball is very small compared to the radius of the loop, and that there are no energy losses due to friction. [Figure: Diagram shows a loop-the-loop track with radius R, with a ball starting from height h on an inclined section, and point P marked directly underneath the top of the loop.]

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