Question

A dumbbell consists of two equal masses m mounted on the ends of a rigid rod of length 2b. The dumbbell is at rest on e frictionless horizontal table, lying on the x-axis and centered on the origin, as seen in Figure 3.

2b> Figure 3: The dumbbell

At time t = 0, the left mass is given a sharp tap, in the shape of a force F⃗ acting in the ”northeasterly” direction at angle γ from the x-axis. The tap lasts for a very short time ∆t.
What are the velocities of the two masses just after the impulse has been applied? Check your answers for the cases: γ = 0 and γ = 90o

Answer 1