How Does a Compressed Spring Affect a Ball's Motion and Energy?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the dynamics of a ball launched by a compressed spring, focusing on various aspects of motion and energy. The problem involves concepts from mechanics, including kinetic energy, momentum, impulse, and the behavior of elastic collisions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationships between the spring's compression, the ball's mass, and the resulting kinetic energy and momentum. Questions arise regarding the nature of the spring (ideal vs. real) and the timing of the spring's release. There is also a focus on the need for visual aids and equations to facilitate problem-solving.

Discussion Status

Some participants have attempted calculations related to kinetic energy but express uncertainty about determining momentum. Questions about the assumptions underlying the problem, such as the characteristics of the spring and the initial conditions, are being raised. Guidance has been offered regarding the necessity of showing work and drawing diagrams.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the need for clarity regarding whether the spring is ideal or real, which impacts the energy transfer to the ball. Additionally, the timing of the spring's release is questioned, particularly in relation to the calculations being performed.

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If a ball of mass of 0.1kg is placed at the end of the compressed spring
(k=4000N/m). If the spring is compressed 1cm...
a. What will the kinetic energy of the ball be?
b. How fast is it moving?
c. What is its momentum?
d. What was the force on the ball from the spring?
e. If it took 0.01s to go from compression to ‘launch’, what is the impulse?
f. What was the power?
g. If this ball was on the bottom of a frictionless roller coaster track, what is
the maximum height that the loop could be?
h. What is the speed of the ball at the bottom of the loop?
i. If this 0.1kg mass collides with a 1.0kg mass that was at rest, what is the
momentum of the system after the collision? (this is an elastic collision)
j. What are the velocities (magnitude and direction) of 0.1kg and 1.0kg
masses
 
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Its good to draw a picture of the setup and list the equations that you think will help solve the problem and you need to show some work before we can help.
 
bobo2210 said:
If a ball of mass of 0.1kg is placed at the end of the compressed spring
(k=4000N/m). If the spring is compressed 1cm...
a. What will the kinetic energy of the ball be?
b. How fast is it moving?
c. What is its momentum?
d. What was the force on the ball from the spring?
e. If it took 0.01s to go from compression to ‘launch’, what is the impulse?
f. What was the power?
g. If this ball was on the bottom of a frictionless roller coaster track, what is
the maximum height that the loop could be?
h. What is the speed of the ball at the bottom of the loop?
i. If this 0.1kg mass collides with a 1.0kg mass that was at rest, what is the
momentum of the system after the collision? (this is an elastic collision)
j. What are the velocities (magnitude and direction) of 0.1kg and 1.0kg
masses

Is this an ideal (massless) spring - where all the energy stored is to be imparted to the ball, or a real spring, where the energy stored is shared between the ball and pieces of the spring?
For that matter -especially considering part (d.) has the spring been released yet?
 
What I got for (a)
is KE=1/2*mv^2
KE= 1/2*(0.1kg)*(0.01m/s)= 0.0005J
b) the ball is moving slow
then I didn't know how to find the momentum
 
bobo2210 said:
What I got for (a)
is KE=1/2*mv^2
KE= 1/2*(0.1kg)*(0.01m/s)= 0.0005J
b) the ball is moving slow
then I didn't know how to find the momentum

What made you think it was traveling at 0.01 m/s when you did part (a)?
 

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