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holezch
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Homework Statement
An ideal massless spring S can be compressed 1 metre by 100 N. That same spring is placed at the bottom of a frictionless incline which makes a 30 degree angle with the horizontal. A 10-kg block M is released from the top, and this block compresses the spring by 2 metres before coming to a rest.
a) Find the total distance traversed by the block on the incline
b) Find the speed of the block just before it hits the spring [ I suppose I could probably get this if I get a) ]
Homework Equations
W = K1 - K0
E = K + U
0 = change in K + change in U
... et c
The Attempt at a Solution
A couple of things are confusing to me.. If the spring has been compressed by 2 metres, then the block acts with a force on 200 N onto the spring.. but where does this magnitude come from? The only thing that would slide the block down is the weight.. and that isn't 200 N or anything like that.
If I knew how to explain that, I think that I would first figure out the kinetic energy as it hits the spring and work from there - since I can solve the equation W [Fd] = K1 - K0 and K0 would just be 0.
Thanks
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