example

Consider a block going towards a mobile hump. Mobile hump? Is this getting esoteric or what! Well, look why not? This could be an oddly shaped piece of ice that slides friction-free on a surface. See the figure below.

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Lets suppose the block and the hump have the same mass m and that the block, pictured in red, starts off with a velocity towards the hump which is initially stationary. The hump is of height 1m.

a

How far will the block rise?

b

At that point, what is the velocity of the hump and the block?

c

What is velocity of the hump and block after the block slides down again?