Potential energy stored in a spring

[zafer]

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

 

[PhanthomJay]

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.