Spring motion/Friction/Freefall problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a block launched by a spring across a frictionless table, encountering a frictional strip before falling off the table. It requires understanding of spring mechanics, friction, and projectile motion to determine the landing distance from the table's edge.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using energy conservation to find the block's initial velocity after leaving the spring and consider the effects of friction on its motion across the strip.
  • There are attempts to calculate the deceleration due to friction and the final velocity at the end of the frictional strip.
  • Questions arise regarding the correct application of motion equations and the calculation of the time of flight after the block leaves the table.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring various calculations and interpretations of the problem. Some have provided specific numerical results, while others express uncertainty about their findings and seek verification of their calculations.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the block's mass, spring constant, and coefficients relevant to the problem, but no consensus has been reached on the final distance calculation or the correctness of the results presented.

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Homework Statement


A 400 gram block is launched across a horizontal frictionless table by a horizontal spring that has been compressed 32 cm and has a spring constant of 56 N/m. After going a short distance, the block slides across a 30 cm strip at the edge of the table that has a coefficient of friction of 0.52 between the block and the table. The block then flies off the table and lands on the floor. If the table is 1.25 m high, how far from the edge of the table does it land on the floor?


Homework Equations


motion equations
f=-kx
Ff=N(coeff of fric)


The Attempt at a Solution


i started off with a 56N/m spring being compressed 32 cm gives a 17.92 N force which translates to an acceleration of 44.8 m/s/s for a .4 kg block. I do not know how to handle the problem from here/ how to deal with the 30 cm strip of friction
 
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well the force of friction is μmg

you're going to want to use energy as well to find the initial velocity of the block after it leaves the spring.

(1/2)kx2 = (1/2)mv2 then you need to solve for v to find the initial velocity.

next you need to find the deceleration of the block due to the friction of the plane.

which i think is μg because the block has left the spring so no more force is applied to the block.

so the block is going to travel a distance of 30cm, so knowing this your deceleration and initial velocity you can solve for the final velocity at the end of the table.

You know the height of the table so you need to find the time it takes for a block to fall that height under the influence of gravity. once you know that just multiply your final velocity at the end of the table by that time and there you have it.
 
so using 1/2kx^2 i get (1/2)(56Nm)(.32m)^2 = 2.87 which through (1/2)mv^2 yields a velocity of 3.79 m/s. Then the decleration is equal to μg = (.52)(-9.8) = -5.096 m/s/s. thru motion equation i got final velocity = 3.36m/s. then thru another motion equation i got time = .51sec for the object to fall 1.25m. Then through another motion equation i got .86m as distance traveled, check this please?
 
EDIT: I think .86m is wrong, i think i jus ttake 3.36m/s and multiply by .51s and get 1.71m?
 
well i would use t=0.505s multiplied by 3.36m/s and yeah that would be right
 

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