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Conservation of Energy--please help me!
A block is pushed against the spring with spring constant 5.7 kN/m (located on the left-hand side of the track) and compresses the spring a distance 4.6 cm from its equilibrium position. The block starts at rest, is accelerated by the compressed spring, and slides across a frictionless track except for a small rough area on a horizontal section of the track. It leaves the track horizontally, flies through the air, and subsequently strikes the ground. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.
1) What is the speed v of the block when it leaves the track?
2) What is the horizontal distance x the block travels in the air?
3) What is the total speed of the block when it hits the ground?
KE = (1/2)mv^2
Ue = (1/2)kx^2
To find velocity I set KE equal to Ue (def. of conservation of energy)
(1/2)mv^2 = (1/2)kx^2
mv^2 = kx^2
v = sqrt [(kx^2)/m]
Homework Statement
A block is pushed against the spring with spring constant 5.7 kN/m (located on the left-hand side of the track) and compresses the spring a distance 4.6 cm from its equilibrium position. The block starts at rest, is accelerated by the compressed spring, and slides across a frictionless track except for a small rough area on a horizontal section of the track. It leaves the track horizontally, flies through the air, and subsequently strikes the ground. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.
1) What is the speed v of the block when it leaves the track?
2) What is the horizontal distance x the block travels in the air?
3) What is the total speed of the block when it hits the ground?
Homework Equations
KE = (1/2)mv^2
Ue = (1/2)kx^2
The Attempt at a Solution
To find velocity I set KE equal to Ue (def. of conservation of energy)
(1/2)mv^2 = (1/2)kx^2
mv^2 = kx^2
v = sqrt [(kx^2)/m]