Solving Spring Work Question: Part d

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a block dropped onto a spring, focusing on the work done by gravitational and spring forces, as well as the maximum compression of the spring when the block's impact speed is doubled. The subject area includes concepts of energy conservation and spring mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply energy conservation principles to find the maximum compression of the spring when the impact speed is doubled, but expresses confusion about their calculations.
  • Some participants suggest modifying the velocity used in the calculations and question the application of signs in the energy equations.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with one providing a potential approach to recalibrate the calculations based on the doubled speed. There is acknowledgment of a mistake regarding the sign in the energy equation, indicating a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The problem involves specific values for mass, spring constant, and distances, but the original poster has not provided the final answer for part d, indicating an ongoing exploration of the problem.

HobieDude16
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Okay I have figured out parts a-c but I cannot figure out part d. Here's the question and my answers I have gotten so far:

A 260 g block is dropped onto a relaxed vertical spring that has a spring constant of k = 2.5 N/cm (Figure 7-42). The block becomes attached to the spring and compresses the spring 13 cm before momentarily stopping.

Fig. 7-42

(a) While the spring is being compressed, what work is done on the block by the gravitational force on it?
.33J
(b) What work is done on the block by the spring force while the spring is being compressed?
-2.11J
(c) What is the speed of the block just before it hits the spring? (Assume that friction is negligible.)
3.70m/s
(d) If the speed at impact is doubled, what is the maximum compression of the spring?
m

I tried using the eqn. .5m(2v)^2=mgx-.5kx^2 and it did not work...what did i do wrong? Thanks in advance!
 
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Does ANYBODY have ANY ideas??
 
you have to double the answer you got from C and that will become your new velocity. then you have to do mgd-1/2kd^2=-1/2mv^2 and you solve for d. Hope this helps.only thing i noticed you did wrong was you didn't put the negative in front of 1/2mv^2. :smile:
 
Thanks a lot! I forgot a negative sign.
 

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