A small block of mass m = 0.500 kg is fired with an initial speed of v0 = 4.40 m/s along a horizontal section of frictionless track, as shown in the top portion of the figure below. The block then moves along the frictionless, semicircular, vertical tracks of radius R = 1.55 m.

(a) Determine the force exerted by the track on the block at points circled A and circled B. (b) The bottom of the track consists of a section (L = 0.417 m) with friction. Determine the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and that portion of the bottom track if the block just makes it to point circled C on the first trip. Hint: If the block just makes it to point circled C, the force of contact exerted by the track on the block at that point is zero. image.jpg