Friction and Potential Energy in Incline Block Experiment

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on a physics problem involving a block of mass 25 kg being pulled up an incline at a constant velocity of 4.5 m along a 33° angle, with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.3. The work done by the student is calculated to be 877.85 J. The block then slides down a frictionless surface and compresses a spring by 0.8 m. The participant struggles to calculate the speed of the block upon reaching the horizontal surface and the spring constant, indicating a misunderstanding of the work-energy principle.

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A physics student pulls a block of mass m = 25 kg up an incline at a slow constant velocity for a distance of d = 4.5 m. The incline makes an angle q = 33° with the horizontal. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the inclined plane is µk = 0.3.

a) What is the work Wm done by the student?
I got this question right. It's 877.8548265 J.

At the top of the incline, the string by which she was pulling the block breaks. The block, which was at rest, slides down a distance d = 4.5 m before it reaches a frictionless horizontal surface. A spring is mounted horizontally on the frictionless surface with one end attached to a wall. The block hits the spring, compresses it a distance L = 0.8 m, then rebounds back from the spring, retraces its path along the horizontal surface, and climbs up the incline.

b) What is the speed v of the block when it first reaches the horizontal surface?

I don't know how to do this. I thought it would be W=KEf-KEi. So I did 877.8548265 = (.5 x 25 x v2)- (0). I got 8.38 m/s, but its not right.

c) What is the spring constant k of the spring?

d) How far up the incline d1 does the block rebound?
 
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wolves5 said:
b) What is the speed v of the block when it first reaches the horizontal surface?

I don't know how to do this. I thought it would be W=KEf-KEi. So I did 877.8548265 = (.5 x 25 x v2)- (0). I got 8.38 m/s, but its not right.

What is the work equal to? Friction and potential energy are not doing the same job as in a).
 

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