The three small steel balls, each of mass 2.75 kg, are connected by the hinged links of...

The three small steel balls, each of mass 2.75 kg, are connected by the hinged links of negligible mass and equal length. They are released from rest in the positions shown and slide down the quarter-circular guide in the vertical plane. When the upper sphere reaches the bottom position, the spheres have a horizontal velocity of 1.560 m/s. Calculate the energy loss ΔQ due to friction and the total impulse I_x on the system of three spheres during this interval.