How Is Kinetic Energy Converted in a Spring System with Friction?

In summary, a 2.5 kg block slides into a spring with a spring constant of 320 N/m, compressing it by 7.5 cm. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the floor is .25. Using the equations for conservation of energy and work, we can determine the work done by the spring and the increase in thermal energy of the block-floor system. The initial speed of the block is unknown, making it difficult to solve for the work from the spring, but knowing that initial kinetic energy is equal to final potential energy plus frictional losses along the distance traveled can help in solving for the initial speed.
  • #1
R.H.2010
6
0

Homework Statement


A block of mass m=2.5 kg slides head on into a spring of spring constant 320 N/m. When the block stops, it has compressed the spring by 7.5 cm. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the floor is .25. while the block is in contact with the spring and being brought to rest, what are (a) the work done by the spring force (B) the increase in the thermal energy of the block-floor system? (c) what is the block's speed as it reaches the spring?


Homework Equations



U=.5kx^2
Ksubi + Wsuball = Ksubf
K=.5mv^2

The Attempt at a Solution



i used conservation of energy and tried to solve for Work from the spring, however I don't know how to get the initial velocity.

.5(2.5)v^2 + .5(320)(.075)^2 + mg(mu)cos180 + Wsubs = 0 + .5(320)(.075)^@

I think the problem here is that .5kx^2 is not supposed to get reduced so the above set up is wrong. Any suggestions, please? Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
We know that the initial kinetic energy (defined to be the moment the block comes in contact with the spring) is equal to the final potential energy of the spring due to compression of the spring by x plus frictional losses accrued while traveling that same distance x.
 

Related to How Is Kinetic Energy Converted in a Spring System with Friction?

What is kinetic energy with springs?

Kinetic energy with springs refers to the energy that an object possesses due to its motion and the elastic potential energy stored in a spring.

How is kinetic energy with springs calculated?

The kinetic energy of an object with a spring can be calculated using the equation KE = 1/2 * m * v^2 + 1/2 * k * x^2, where m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement of the spring.

What is the relationship between kinetic energy and spring constant?

The spring constant, k, is a measure of the stiffness of a spring. The higher the spring constant, the greater the amount of elastic potential energy stored in the spring, which results in a higher kinetic energy of the object.

How does changing the mass of an object affect its kinetic energy with springs?

The kinetic energy of an object with a spring is directly proportional to its mass. This means that increasing the mass of the object will also increase its kinetic energy.

What happens to kinetic energy with springs when the spring is stretched or compressed?

When a spring is stretched or compressed, the elastic potential energy stored in the spring changes. This change in elastic potential energy results in a corresponding change in the kinetic energy of the object, which may increase or decrease depending on the direction of the displacement of the spring.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
29
Views
979
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
24
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
17
Views
361
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
999
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
354
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
2K
Back
Top