Concept question, coil spring and energy.

AI Thread Summary
A coil spring can leave the table when compressed and released, depending on the energy involved. When the spring is compressed, potential energy is stored in it, which transforms into kinetic energy upon release. If the kinetic energy is sufficient to overcome gravitational forces, the spring can lift off the table. Understanding the conservation of energy is crucial to analyzing this scenario. Therefore, the key lies in the balance between the stored energy and the forces acting on the spring.
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Homework Statement



A coil spring of mass m rests upright on a table. If you compress the spring by pressing down with your hand and then release it, can the spring actually leave the table? Explain, using the law of conservation of energy.
 
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Well before we help you through this problem we need to know if you have a working understanding of conservation of energy and the laws that go with it. You should try just stab at the question, then we can go from there.
 

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