Calculating work done by friction

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the work done by friction in a scenario involving a spring. The original poster questions how to determine the distance variable in the work formula when considering both the compression of the spring and the subsequent motion of an object.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to clarify whether the distance used in the work calculation should include both the compression of the spring and the distance traveled after release. Some participants question the conditions of the surface under the spring and whether it is frictionless.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, with one suggesting the use of conservation of energy to analyze the situation. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet, but guidance has been offered regarding energy conversion.

Contextual Notes

The problem does not specify whether the surface under the spring is frictionless, which may affect the calculations. Additionally, the initial velocity of the object after release is not provided, which could influence the analysis of energy conversion.

rleung3
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Hi,

When you compress a spring and release it (allowing object to spring some distance), to compute the work done by friction, your s term in W=Fs would have to equal the distance that the spring is compressed + the additional distance traveled by the object once it leaves the spring, right?

That's what I alwasy thought, but in one of my problems, it uses an s value that equals ONLY the distance traveled by the object after it surpasses the point of the uncompressed spring.

Ryan
 
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Does it say the surface under the spring is frictionless?
 
No, it does not...
 
Do you know the initial velocity after the object is released? You could use conservation of energy to see how much EPE is converted to KE. Whats left over is the work taken out of the system by friction. Then you can add this to what you figure out later
 

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