# Spring gun

1. Oct 14, 2008

### sealmap87

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The spring of a spring gun has force constant k = 400 and negligible mass. The spring is compressed 6.00 and a ball with mass 0.0300 is placed in the horizontal barrel against the compressed spring. The spring is then released, and the ball is propelled out the barrel of the gun. The barrel is 6.00 long, so the ball leaves the barrel at the same point that it loses contact with the spring. The gun is held so the barrel is horizontal.

I found the velocity as it leaves the barrel as 6.93 m/s
Then it asks:Calculate the speed of the ball as it leaves the barrel if a constant resisting force of 6.00 N acts on the ball as it moves along the barrel.

I got the 4.9 as the right answer.
Then:For the situation in part B, at what position along the barrel does the ball have the greatest speed? (In this case, the maximum speed does not occur at the end of the barrel.)

And:What is that greatest speed?

2. Relevant equations

F = -kx
W = 1/2kx2
K = 1/2mv2
3. The attempt at a solution
For finding the first velocity, I used W= 1/2kx2
where x = .06 m, and got it to be .72 J.
Then I set it to 1/2mv2 and got 6.93 m/s, which was right.

For part B, where a 6 N force acts against the bullet I found the work of the force with W = F*D = 6*.06 m = .36
Then I subtracted .36 from .72, which was .36, and set .36 = 1/2mv2, and found the velocity to be 4.9, which was right.

For finding the position along the barrel I tried setting .36 = 1/2kx2, and solving for x, but that didn't work, and without that I can't find the last velocity its asking for. Probably a simple mistake but I can't seem to find where, any ideas?? Thanks for any help.

2. Oct 15, 2008

### Irid

The ball keeps on accelerating when the force of the spring is greater than the force of friction. After that, the friction takes over and the ball decelerates. So you should solve this equation:

$$kx = F_{\text{friction}}$$

3. Oct 15, 2008

### sealmap87

Thanks, I got the position x where the velocity is greatest, but I still can't get the mac velocity. I tried putting that x value in the spring potential energy equation and setting that equal to the kinetic energy and solving for v, but it said the velocity I got was wrong. This question is bugging me because it should be simple but I seem to keep overlooking something.

4. Oct 16, 2008

### Irid

The mistake is that you didn't include the energy wasted to overcome frictional forces. To obtain the velocity you must consider

$$E_{\text{kinetic}} = E_{\text{potential}} - E_{\text{friction}}$$