Solving a Simple Spring Problem: Finding the Speed of a Launched Object

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the speed of an object launched from a spring gun, with a mass of 2.1 kg and a spring constant of 19 N/m, using a compression of 3.6 cm (0.036 m). The correct approach involves equating the potential energy stored in the spring to the kinetic energy of the object. The formula used is ½kx² = ½mv², leading to the conclusion that the speed can be derived by rearranging this equation to solve for v.

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Simple Spring Problem Help!

A spring gun fires an object of mass 2.1 kg horizontally across a frictionless table. The spring has a spring constant of 19 N/m and is initially compressed by 3.6 cm. What is the speed of the object as it leaves the spring gun?

I can not figure out this problem.
3.6cm = 0.036 m
then I tired (0.036)(19) then dividing that by the mass
nothing seems to be working

Any help or direction would be great! Thank you!
 
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Typically you would want to consider the potential energy of the compressed spring being converted to kinetic energy.
 


It sounds like you are just doing things at random to see if they produce the answer in the back of the book. It would be far better to set the problem up in symbols and work it out in what you think is a rational manner before you ever substitute any numbers at all. You really need to be thinking about what you are doing and why.
 

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