How High Will a Mass Fly on a Vertical Spring?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the dynamics of a mass on a vertical spring, specifically focusing on how high the mass will rise after being compressed and released. The scope includes concepts of potential energy, kinetic energy, and the mechanics of spring motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the initial conditions of a mass on a spring and questions the interpretation of energy transformations involved in the motion.
  • Another participant suggests that the potential energy stored in the spring is converted directly into gravitational potential energy as the mass rises.
  • There is a query about the additional energy required for the mass to "fly," indicating uncertainty about energy transformations at the highest point of ascent.
  • One participant expresses a misunderstanding regarding the question, initially thinking it was about the height at which the object leaves the spring.
  • A participant provides a numerical response of 0.1 m, possibly indicating the height reached by the mass.
  • There is a question regarding the reasons for the mass's highest velocity at a specific point, with a response attributing it to the equilibrium position of the spring.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing interpretations of the energy transformations involved, and there is no consensus on the exact height the mass will reach or the conditions for its departure from the spring.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about energy conservation and the definitions of potential and kinetic energy are not fully resolved, and there are unresolved questions regarding the point of departure of the mass from the spring.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in mechanics, energy transformations, and the behavior of springs in physics.

azizlwl
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A vertical spring with constant 200N/m has a light platform on its top. When a 500-g mass is set on the platform, the spring compresses 0.0245m. The mass is now pushed down 0.0755m farther and released. How far above this latter position will the mass fly?

The answer from the book.
If it does, Us at start=Ug at end, where zero Ug is at its lowest position.
200(0.10)2/2=0.5(9.8)h
......
I'm not sure if i intepret it correctly.
Initial spring energ=highest level it goes.

But if the KE energy is transformed to PE, what additional energy to make it 'fly'?

Thank You.
 
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The spring PE is converted to KE and the KE is converted into gravitational PE. Since the KE is 0 at the beginning and end you can just ignore it and consider a straight transfer of spring PE to gravitational PE.
 
azizlwl said:
But if the KE energy is transformed to PE, what additional energy to make it 'fly'?
When it reaches the highest point, its KE is zero so everything is gravitational PE. Of course, at the intermediate points where the mass is rising the mass has KE, all of which can be traced to the original spring PE.

Dale beat me to it!
 
Yes I really interpret it wrongly.
I thought the question is the height at which the object leave the spring.

Can we calculate the point/height of departure?
 
Is it because it is at the highest velocity, equilibrium position or of any other reasons?
 
It is the equilibrium position.
 
Thanks.
 

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