Spring force, find the speed at equilibrium

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a .50 kg block attached to a spring with a spring constant of 500 N/m, moving on a frictionless surface with a kinetic energy of 20 J at the equilibrium position. The speed of the block at this position is calculated using the kinetic energy formula, yielding approximately 8.9 m/s. To determine the power exerted by the spring, participants are encouraged to use expressions that incorporate speed. The maximum compression of the spring can be found by equating the total energy at maximum compression to the initial kinetic energy. Additionally, hints are provided for calculating the work done by the spring when the block is 5 cm away from the equilibrium position.
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A .50 kg block sliding on horizontal frictionless surface is attached to one end of a horizontal spring (with k = 500 N/M) whose other end is fixed. The block has a kinetic energy of 20J as it pass through its equilibrium position (the point at which the spring force is zero.)
  1. what is the speed of the block as it passes through its equilibrium position?
  2. at what rate is the spring doing work (power) as the block passes through the equilibrium pont?
  3. what is the maximum compression of the spring?
  4. at what rate is the spring doing work on the block as the block passes through a point 5 cm away from the sprig's equilibrium position and being stretched?

The Attempt at a Solution


1.
I know this is wrong but
do I use K - 1/mv2
20 =.5*.50*v2
v -8.9 m/sI missed my lecture the day when his was taught, I don't have any idea how to solve any of this ... can you please help me??
 
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Yes that is what you use. The 20 J of energy is the total energy of the oscillator no matter where the mass is as it moves back and forth.
 
can you give me hints on the other three questions too
 
For 2 and 4, what is an expression for power that you can use that involves the speed?
For 3, how would you express the total energy at maximum compression?
 
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