Potential energy stored in a spring

AI Thread Summary
To find the maximum compression of the spring when a 4 kg object is pushed towards it, conservation of energy principles should be applied. The potential energy (PE) from the object's height and its kinetic energy (KE) from its velocity must equal the elastic potential energy stored in the spring at maximum compression. The relevant equations are PE = mgh for gravitational potential energy and KE = 1/2 mv^2 for kinetic energy. The spring's potential energy is given by PEspring = 1/2 kx^2, where k is the spring constant and x is the compression. Solving these equations will yield the maximum compression of the spring.
zafer
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Homework Statement


A 4 kg object at height of 1 m is pushed with a velocity of 5m/s towards a spring.If the surface is frictionless and the spring constant is 200N/m,what is the maximum compression of the spring?

PEspring=1/2kx^2

KEspring=1/2kx^2
 
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zafer said:

Homework Statement


A 4 kg object at height of 1 m is pushed with a velocity of 5m/s towards a spring.If the surface is frictionless and the spring constant is 200N/m,what is the maximum compression of the spring?

PEspring=1/2kx^2
yes
KEspring=1/2kx^2
there is no kinetic energy associated with springs assumed massless or of negligible mass (and if there was, this would not be the equation to use anyway). But there is KE associated with the moving object. Try conservation of energy and please show your work.
 

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