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bcjochim07
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Homework Statement
A spring is standing upright on a table with its bottom end fastened to the table. A block is dropped from a height of 3 cm above the top of the spring. The block sticks to the top end of the spring and then oscillates with an amplitude of 20 cm. What is the oscillation frequency?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I tried to use conservation of energy, saying that yo = 0 and the top of the spring
so mg(.03m)= .5k(.10m)^2
k= 6mg then I plugged that into f= (1/2pi)* sqrt (k/m)
But that didn't work. I'm think that maybe since it says "sticks" this is an inelastic collision where energy isn't conserved.
Also if y=0 at the top of the spring, as it compresses to its maximum does this lead to a negative gravitational potential energy in addition to the potential energy in the spring?