The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum compression of a spring when a 4 kg object is pushed towards it with an initial velocity of 5 m/s on a frictionless surface. The spring constant is given as 200 N/m. The conservation of energy principle is applied, where the initial kinetic energy of the object and potential energy due to height are converted into the potential energy stored in the spring at maximum compression. The relevant equations are PEspring = 1/2 kx² and KE = 1/2 mv².
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yeszafer 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
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.KEspring=1/2kx^2