(Chapter 14, no. 118 from Tipler)

Lecture 24, #1: The plunger of a pinball machine has mass mp and is attached to a spring of force k. The spring is compressed at a distance of x₀ from its equilibrium position of x = 0 and released. A ball of mass m_b is next to the plunger.

(a) Where does the ball leave the plunger?

(b) What is the speed (v) of the ball when it separates?

(c) At what distance x₁ does the plunger come to rest momentarily? (Assume that the surface is horizontal and frictionless so that the ball slides rather than rolls.)