Elastic Potential Energy Problem

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves a 1.2 kg spring cart with a spring constant of 65.0 N/m, initially compressed by 8.0 cm. The goal is to find the spring's compression when the cart moves at 42.0 cm/s. The initial calculation yields a compression of 5.71 cm, but the correct answer is 5.6 cm. To arrive at this, the initial displacement of 8 cm must be factored into the energy equations, adjusting the final elastic potential energy accordingly. This adjustment leads to the accurate compression value of 5.6 cm.
phizics09
Messages
38
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


A 1.2 kg spring laboratory cart is held against a wall. The spring constant is 65.0 N/m. The spring is compressed 8.0 cm when held against the wall. What is the compression of the spring when the cart's velocity is 42.0 cm/s?


Homework Equations


(1/2)mv^2=(1/2)kx^2


The Attempt at a Solution



(1.2)(0.42)^2=65(x)^2
x=5.71 cm

But the answer says 5.6 cm, so I think I did something wrong.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Since the cart is starting out already compressed to 8cm, you would have to consider that initial displacement in your equation. Subtract the final elastic potential energy from the original (x=8cm) elastic potential energy on the right side. Do that and you should get 5.6cm.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Thread 'Correct statement about a reservoir with an outlet pipe'
The answer to this question is statements (ii) and (iv) are correct. (i) This is FALSE because the speed of water in the tap is greater than speed at the water surface (ii) I don't even understand this statement. What does the "seal" part have to do with water flowing out? Won't the water still flow out through the tap until the tank is empty whether the reservoir is sealed or not? (iii) In my opinion, this statement would be correct. Increasing the gravitational potential energy of the...
Thread 'A bead-mass oscillatory system problem'
I can't figure out how to find the velocity of the particle at 37 degrees. Basically the bead moves with velocity towards right let's call it v1. The particle moves with some velocity v2. In frame of the bead, the particle is performing circular motion. So v of particle wrt bead would be perpendicular to the string. But how would I find the velocity of particle in ground frame? I tried using vectors to figure it out and the angle is coming out to be extremely long. One equation is by work...
Back
Top