Determining spring's max compression on frictionless track

AI Thread Summary
To determine the maximum compression of a spring on a frictionless track, a 0.280-kg block moving at 1.30 m/s collides with a spring of force constant 43.6 N/m. The calculations involve using energy conservation principles, equating gravitational potential energy to spring potential energy. The maximum compression is found to be approximately 0.11 meters. An alternate method for solving the problem is also presented. The solution effectively demonstrates the application of physics concepts to find the spring's maximum compression.
mandy9008
Messages
127
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


A 0.280-kg block along a horizontal track has a speed of 1.30 m/s immediately before colliding with a light spring of force constant 43.6 N/m located at the end of the track. What is the spring's maximum compression if the track is frictionless?


The Attempt at a Solution


mgy=1/2mv2
y=1/2v2 / g
y=1/2 (1.30 m/s)2 / 9.8 m/s2
y=0.086m

mgy=1/2kx2
x2 = 2mgy / k
x2 = 2 (.280 kg)(9.8 m/s2)(0.086m) / 43.6N/m
x=0.11m
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Answer looks good, an alternate method is shown in the attachment.
 

Attachments

  • work.JPG
    work.JPG
    3.1 KB · Views: 1,381
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top