Block A initially has mass and is fixed at

MATHEMATICS · Subjective · AP · AP Precalculus · Polynomial and Rational Functions · Polynomial and Rational Functions

Problem

Block A initially has mass

4.0\,\text{kg}

and is fixed at

x=0\,\text{m}

. Block B initially has mass

1.0\,\text{kg}

and is fixed at

x=3.0\,\text{m}

. A mass

m

is slowly transferred from A to B (so A becomes

4.0-m

kg and B becomes

1.0+m

kg). Derive an expression for the x-coordinate of the center of mass as a function of

m

, and then determine that coordinate when

m=1.5\,\text{kg}