Calculating Distance Wood Block Travels After Spring Released

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the distance a wood block travels after being released from a compressed spring, considering the effects of friction. Participants explore the application of conservation of energy principles and the work done by friction in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an equation involving spring potential energy and frictional work but reports not arriving at the correct answer.
  • Another participant describes the problem as a conservation of energy scenario, noting that potential energy from the spring converts to kinetic energy and then back to potential energy, while also accounting for friction as a dissipative force.
  • A subsequent participant expresses continued difficulty with the same equation that was initially presented, indicating a lack of clarity or resolution.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the change in total energy equates to the work done by friction, asserting that there is no change in kinetic energy since the block starts and ends at rest.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the correct approach or solution to the problem, with multiple viewpoints and unresolved equations presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the spring constant and the coefficient of friction, but there are indications of missing assumptions or definitions that may affect the calculations. The relationship between the distances traveled and the work done by friction remains unclear.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in mechanics, specifically those studying spring dynamics and frictional forces in a physics context.

afa
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A 280000-kg wood block is firmly attached to a very light horizontal spring, as shown in the figure . The block can slide along a table where the coefficient of friction is 0.30. A force of 22 N compresses the spring .18m .
If the spring is released from this position, how far beyond its equilibrium position will it stretch at its first maximum extension?

I used 1/2 kx^2 = mew mg(x+D)
D is the distance the block travels

D= ((2*mew*mg)/k) -x

didnt come up with the right answer and I don't know why..Please help??
 
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This is a conservation of energy problem.

Initially you compress the spring, giving the system (block) potential energy of 1/2 kx^2 where x is the compression distance and k is the spring constant (which you can find). Then the spring is allowed to move, and that potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, and back to potential energy when the block fully stretches the spring out again. Without friction, E_initial = E_final, which means that x_initial = -x_final, the block moves the same distance but in the opposite direction from equilibrium, or the block as moved a total distance 2x. But now, we have friction. Friction is a disappative force that does work on the block as it moves. The energy lost due to friction is proportional to the total distance traveled (x_i + x_f). You should be able to solve the problem now.
 
i still come up with the same equation that doesn't work ?
 
the change in total energy gives you the work from friction. No change in kinetic energy (the body is initially and finally at rest) so the change of its potential energy will be equal to the work of friction...
 

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