How Do You Solve the Ice Cube and Spring Problem on a Slope?

[eliassiguenza]

String Problem! Please Help!

Homework Statement

A 54 g ice cube can slide without friction up and down a 35 degree slope. The ice cube is pressed against a spring at the bottom of the slope, compressing the spring 12 cm. The spring constant is 27 N/m

Homework Equations

F = -kx
F = ma
soh cah toa

PE = -1/2 kx^2 = 1/2 mv ^2

x = Vt+1/2at^2

The Attempt at a Solution

I did the following and I got it wrong .. any ideas?

F= k * x
PE = 1/2 k * x^2 = m*v^2
V^2 = P.E./(1/2 * m) = Square Root of that to get V.


mass * cos of angle = to find the force keeping the block of ice on the ground.
mass * sin of angle = to find the parallel force, which pulls on the ground ...

- Parallel Force/ mass = acceleration of the ice block.

using Kinematic equations I determined the time it'll take to do the whole thing... without the spring anymore just to go up and down where it started..

I divided that time because it obviously plots a parabola... and that's when it stops to come back.. that value of time i used in... V t + 1/2 at^2 to find distance ... but
i got it wrong .. any ideas?

 

[gneill]

Your problem statement did not specify what it is you want to calculate!

 

[tiny-tim]

hi eliassiguenza!

(try using the X² icon just above the Reply box )

… I divided that time because it obviously plots a parabola... and that's when it stops to come back.. that value of time i used in... V t + 1/2 at^2 to find distance ...

if you're trying to find the maximum distance, why not just use conservation of energy?