# Find the maximum elastic potential energy of the spring

1. Dec 2, 2004

### TheShapeOfTime

A 2.0 kg mass is pressed against a spring (k = 800N/m) such that the spring has been compressed 0.22 m. The spring is released and the mass moves along a horizontal frictionless surface and up a frictionless slope. Calculate:
a) the maximum elastic potential energy of the spring
b) the maximum velocity of the mass
c) the maximum vertical height the mass will travel up the slope

This is what I've done so far (I'm not sure if it's correct):
$$E_p spring = \frac{1}{2}kx^2$$
$$= \frac{1}{2} \cdot 800 \cdot 0.22^2$$
$$= 19.36J$$

$$E_p spring = E_k mass$$
$$\frac{1}{2}kx^2 = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$
$$v = 4.4m/s^2$$

Few notation questions:

What is the appropriate notation for $E_p spring$?
Is it ok to use "$\cdot$" in place of the regular multiplication sign whereever?

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 2, 2004
2. Dec 2, 2004

### hypermorphism

What you've done so far looks correct to me as well, as long as you understand why they're using the adjective "maximum" to describe the quantities you're calculating. :)
The $$\cdot$$ is fine to use between numbers in R, as the multiplication operator satisfies the definition of the dot product on R. You can use Us to represent potential energy of the spring if you want to use a common potential energy symbol, but as long as you define your notation and its not unnecessarily convoluted, it's fine to use. :)

3. Dec 3, 2004

### TheShapeOfTime

Thanks for checking over my work! I hadn't completed (c) because I wasn't sure how to do it, but I found out today it was just me forgetting about one formula I had:

$$E_p = mgh$$
$$h = \frac{E_p}{mg}$$
$$= \frac{19}{2.0 \cdot 9.80}$$
$$= 0.97m$$

Could you elaborate a bit on the adjective "maximum" and why it's used? Why might there be lesser values than the ones I calculated with these formula's?

4. Dec 3, 2004

### Staff: Mentor

The quantities in question (spring PE, speed of mass, height up the slope) are not constants. For example, since spring PE is $1/2k x^2$, it varies from zero to some maximum value (at $x = x_{max}$).

5. Dec 4, 2004

### TheShapeOfTime

Oh, so they were asking for the maximum EP, etc. with the values they provided?