How Is the Mass of a Block Determined When It Compresses a Spring?

Thread starter dorian_stokes
Start date Oct 18, 2009
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Block Spring

AI Thread Summary

To determine the mass of a block compressing a spring, the conservation of energy principle is applied, equating kinetic energy to spring potential energy. The equation used is 0.5mv^2 = 0.5kx^2, where k is the spring constant and x is the compression distance. The block's speed before impact is 3.5 m/s, and the spring constant is 31 N/m with a compression of 0.11 m. It is crucial to square both the speed and the compression in the calculations. The correct mass can be found by rearranging the equation and substituting the given values.

Oct 18, 2009

dorian_stokes

Homework Statement

A block is dropped onto a spring with k = 31 N/m. The block has a speed of 3.5 m/s just before it strikes the spring. If the spring compresses an amount 0.11 m before bringing the block to rest, what is the mass of the block?

Homework Equations

0.5mv^2=0.5kx^2

The Attempt at a Solution

0.5m3.5=0.5*31*.11

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Oct 18, 2009

Delphi51

Homework Helper

Looks like you forgot to square the 3.5 and the .11.

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