Solving Spring Problems Involving Mass and Frictionless Floor

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a block attached to a spring on a frictionless floor. The block's mass, spring constant, and various scenarios regarding the spring's extension and energy are presented, with specific focus on the dynamics of the block's motion and the forces involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the extension of the spring, potential energy, and the maximum speed of the block. There are attempts to calculate the acceleration when the spring is fully stretched, with one participant expressing confusion about their calculations and seeking clarification on the force exerted by the spring.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the spring force equation, while others are exploring the geometry of the situation. There is an ongoing inquiry into the correct approach for calculating the acceleration at maximum stretch, indicating a productive exchange of ideas without a clear consensus yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework problem, with specific values provided for mass, spring constant, and distances. There is a mention of an initial speed given to the block, which alters the dynamics of the problem.

Naeem
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A block of mass m = 4.5 kg rests on a frictionless floor. It is attached to a spring with a relaxed length L = 3 m. The spring has spring constant k = 16 N/m and is relaxed when hanging in the vertical position. The block is pulled d = 3 m to one side. In this problem, the block is always constrained to move on the floor (i.e. it never leaves the floor).


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a) By what amount is the spring extended?
DL = m *


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b) What is the potential energy stored in the spring?
Uspring = J *
12.3 OK


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c) The block is released but is constrained to move horizontally on the frictionless floor. What is the maximum speed it attains?
|v|max= m/s *
2.34 OK


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Let's change the problem a bit. When the spring is vertical (hence, unstretched), the block is given an initial speed equal to 1.8 times the speed found in part (c).
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d) How far from the initial point does the block go along the floor before stopping?
Dmax = m *
4.287 OK


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e) What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the block at this point (when the spring is stretched farthest)?
|a| = m/s2
0.638 NO

HELP: What is the force exerted by the spring on the block when the spring is fully stretched?

I am not able to figure out part e. I'm stuck

here is what I did F = ma = k * delta L

Plugged in m , k and delta L

found a to be 8.25 m/s2, which is wrong, anybody tell me what is wrong?
 
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The force a spring exerts on an object is F = -kx.
 
If the spring is vertical in its relaxed mode, and the block is move laterally, then the spring forms the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle with two sides of 3 m.

Here I am assuming the floor is horizontal with the normal parallel to the axis of the spring.
 
Can anybody help me with part e) here please.

Thanks,
 

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