General Rule for Spring Compression?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a block sliding on a frictionless table that compresses a spring, and the goal is to determine the amount of compression of the spring from its natural length. The subject area includes concepts from mechanics, specifically energy conservation and spring dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of energy principle, questioning how to relate the kinetic energy of the moving block to the potential energy stored in the compressed spring. There are inquiries about the correct equations to use for both the moving block and the spring.

Discussion Status

Several participants have contributed equations related to kinetic and potential energy, with some clarifying the distinction between energy types. There is an ongoing exploration of how to apply these concepts to find the spring compression, but no consensus has been reached on the specific approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the definitions and equations relevant to the problem, with some confusion regarding the application of conservation of energy versus momentum principles. There is a lack of explicit information on the initial conditions or specific values for mass, speed, or spring constant.

FrenchAtticus
Messages
10
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A block of mass m slides on a horizontal frictionless table with an initial speed. It then compresses a spring of force constant k and is brought to rest. How much is the spring compressed x from it's natural length.




Homework Equations



??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Conservation of energy.
Whats the energy of a moving block
Whats the energy of a compressed spring
 
Conservation of energy is mgh1 + 1/2mv1^2 = mgh2 + 1/2mv2^2

energy of a moving block is 1/2mv^2

energy of a compressed spring is potential?

How do I apply these to find how much the spring will compress.
 
FrenchAtticus said:
Conservation of energy is mgh1 + 1/2mv1^2 = mgh2 + 1/2mv2^2
No this is only for a falling object mgh2 = gravitational potential energy.

energy of a compressed spring is potential?
Whats the equation for the energy in a compressed spring?
 
energy in a compressed spring is F = -Kx

and is conservation of energy m1v1 = m2v2?
 
No that's momentum.
Spring energy = 1/2 k x^2
Kinetic energy = 1/2 m v ^2

For conservation of energy you have the ke of the block at the start and the spring energy at the end. So the ke just equals the spring energy.
 

Similar threads

Sliding block hits and compresses a spring
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Distribution of Energy when work is done on a system of 2 masses connected by a spring
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Find elastic energy in the compressed spring.
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Free Body Diagram of Mass-Spring System
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Problem with when to use Force and Energy. What compresses spring/
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Question about springs and rotational/translational energy
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
A block of mass m is dropped onto the top of a vertical spring....
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
A rocket on a spring, related to potential/kinetic energy
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
How High Does Cheese Rise on a Released Spring?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Why can we move the spring with constant speed when we apply a force?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K