Distance of box pushed up incline by spring

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SUMMARY

The problem involves a block of mass 1.5 kg attached to a spring with a constant of 590 N/m, placed on a 21-degree inclined plane with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.19. The spring is initially compressed by 0.18 m, and the initial gravitational energy is considered zero. The total mechanical energy at the start is calculated to be 9.558 J, which is used to determine the distance L the block travels up the incline while overcoming friction. The key equations include the work-energy principle and the potential energy of the spring.

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Homework Statement


A block of mass m=1.5kg is attached to a spring of constant k=590N/m. It is initially at rest on inclined plane of 21 degrees, and coefficient of kinetic friction between block and plane is MUk=.19. In initial position, where spring is compressed by d=.18m, mass is at lowest position and spring is compressed maximum amount. Take initial gravitational energy of block as 0. If spring pushes the block up the incline, what distance L will the block travel, in m?

Homework Equations


W=Fd
KE=.5mv^2
PE=mgh
PE of spring=.5kx^2
Fkinetic friction= MUk(mgcos(theta))
KE0+PE0+Wfriction=KE+PE

The Attempt at a Solution


I assume the basic formula to be KE0+PE0+Wfriction=KE+PE. I have solved for the initial mechanical energy in the first part of the problem, and it equals 9.558J. The equation then becomes 9.558+Wf=KE+PE. Because it's a spring, the PE=.5kx^2, so the equation becomes 9.558+Wf=.5mV^2+.5kx^2, and because the block's final speed is 0, the equation is 9.558+Wf=.5kx^2. Substituting for the spring constant becomes 9.558J+Wf=.5(590N/m)x^2. I assume that if I could solve for x, I could calculate the total distance traveled, as the spring started at being compressed 18m. Wf should equal Ffriction times L, and I calculated 2.607N for Ffriction, from Fk=MUk(mgcos(theta)). I'm a bit unsure of where to go next, as I seem to have hit a wall; I don't know Wf, x (which equals L-.18), or L (which I'm trying to solve for). Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
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You have correctly found that the block starts with 9.558 J worth of energy. It spends these Joules (a) to buy potential energy and (b) to overcome friction until it stops. Both quantities involve the distance L up the incline. Can you write (a) expressions for each and (b) the energy balance equation?
 

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