Speed, distance and spring on a track

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves Tarzan compressing a spring and then moving down a frictionless hill before ascending a frictionless incline. The subject area includes concepts of energy conservation, kinematics, and spring mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of conservation of energy and the role of initial potential energy. Questions arise about the relationship between speed, acceleration, and energy transformations.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different approaches to the problem, including the use of energy conservation principles. Some guidance has been provided regarding the importance of considering initial potential energy and the spring's potential energy.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a previous similar question, and participants are navigating assumptions about speed and acceleration on a frictionless track.

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Homework Statement



Tarzan (m=90kg) presses against a horizontal spring with spring constant k=81000N/m ( on a frictionless surface), compressing it by 100 cm. After loosing contact with the spring, Tarzan starts going down an 11.0 m high hill that is frictionless, and then starts to go up a frictionless incline of 30o on the other side. How far along the slope will Tarzan get?
Picture can be found here https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=315325"

Homework Equations



e=0.5mv2
eg=mgh
spring = 0.5kx2

The Attempt at a Solution



this question very similar to a previous question i posted but i can not seem to carry it forward and find the distance the person would travel it they went up the hill of the frictionless hill. i first found the speed which was 30 m/s. since the track is frictionless i assummed the speed would be the same and set up and another equation 0.5mv2=mgh where h= dsin[tex]\vartheta[/tex] and i solved for d this didnt work out ..pls. help
 
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The speed wouldn't be the same all along the track. Tarzan accelerates down the hill and decelerates up the ramp.
 
so do i find the acceleration of the person using a kinematic equation where the acclerration is gravity - x. x being the deceleration>>??
 
Use conservation of energy. Acceleration is not needed here.
 
if i used conservation of energy then wouldn't this be right 0.5mv2=mgh where h= dsin[tex]\vartheta[/tex]
 
You forgot the initial gravitational potential energy. Also, you don't need to calculate initial velocity. Just use the spring potential energy.
 
Last edited:
so then wld it look like mghinitial+0.5*kx2= mgdsin[tex]\vartheta[/tex]...where hinitial= 11m ??
 
correct.
 
thanks :)
 

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