In a lab experiment you let a uniform ball roll down a curved track. The ball starts from rest and rolls without slipping. While on the track, the ball descends a vertical distance h. The lower end of the track is horizontal and extends over the edge of the lab table; the ball leaves the track traveling horizontally. While free falling after leaving the track, the ball moves a horizontal distance x and a vertical distance y.
(a) Calculate x in terms of h and y, ignoring the work done by friction.
(b) Would the answer to part (a) be any different on the moon?
(c) Although you do the experiment very carefully, your measured value of x is consistently a bit smaller than the value calculated in part (a). Why? (d) What would x be for the same h and y as in part (a) if you let a silver dollar roll down the track? You can ignore the work done by friction.