Sheneron
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[SOLVED] Conservation of Energy
An object of mass m starts from rest and slides a distance d down a frictionless incline of angle . While sliding, it contacts an unstressed spring of negligible mass as shown in Figure P8.10. The object slides an additional distance x as it is brought momentarily to rest by compression of the spring (of force constant k). Find the initial separation d between object and spring. (Use theta for , g for acceleration due to gravity, and m, k and x as necessary.)
http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p810uu0.gif
Wspring = 1/2kx^2
W = F*d
I thought that the work of the spring would equal the work of gravity. so I set the two equations equal to one another, but apparently that is wrong.
Homework Statement
An object of mass m starts from rest and slides a distance d down a frictionless incline of angle . While sliding, it contacts an unstressed spring of negligible mass as shown in Figure P8.10. The object slides an additional distance x as it is brought momentarily to rest by compression of the spring (of force constant k). Find the initial separation d between object and spring. (Use theta for , g for acceleration due to gravity, and m, k and x as necessary.)
http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p810uu0.gif
Homework Equations
Wspring = 1/2kx^2
W = F*d
The Attempt at a Solution
I thought that the work of the spring would equal the work of gravity. so I set the two equations equal to one another, but apparently that is wrong.