# Homework Help: A Spring in a Conservation of Energy Problem?

1. Mar 11, 2004

### PhysicsPhun

Not totally lost but for the most part.. i'm pretty lost..

A Block of mass m = 7.20 kg is released from rest at a heigh of H = 9 m on a curved frictionless ramp. At the foot of the ramp is a spring whose spring constant is k = 306 N/m. What is the maximum compression of the spring, x?

Alright so using conservation of energy, i got the final velocity to be 13.2816 m/s. The "ramp" becomes flat, and is frictionless, so there is no acceleration, correct?
This is where i am stuck.
The only thing i can think of to find the maximum compression of the spring is: F = -Kx

Is there anything else i can do? Or is there something i am missing?

Thanks.

2. Mar 11, 2004

You'd have an easier time with a simpler energy argument.

$$E_e = \frac{1}{2}kx^2$$

Where $E_e$ is the elastic energy due to the compression in the spring.

3. Mar 11, 2004

### PhysicsPhun

Elastic potential energy?

Would that just be the potential energy before the block begins to move at the top of the ramp?

4. Mar 11, 2004

### PhysicsPhun

Wow, I got it. Thanks alot. Very much appreciated.