Calculating Spring Compression for Escape Velocity from Spinning Asteroid

In summary, the problem involves a package of mass 9 kg on an airless asteroid of mass 6.1 * 10^5 kg and radius 36 m, with a point on the equator moving at a speed of 2 m/s. The goal is to launch the package in a way that it will never return and will reach a speed of 189 m/s when far from the asteroid. A large and powerful spring with a stiffness of 1.1 * 10^5 N/m is available, and the question is how much to compress the spring. The solution involves finding the initial and final energies and setting them equal to each other, taking into account gravitational potential energy.
  • #1
clutch12
21
0

Homework Statement



A package of mass 9 kg sits at the equator of an airless asteroid of mass 6.1 * 10^5 kg and radius 36 m, which is spinning so that a point on the equator is moving with speed 2 m/s. We want to launch the package in such a way that it will never come back, and when it is very far from the asteroid it will be traveling with speed 189 m/s. We have a large and powerful spring whose stiffness is 1.1*10^5 N/m. How much must we compress the spring?

Homework Equations



Kp,f = Kp,i + Ui + W

The Attempt at a Solution



Im kinda lost at how to attempt this problem so any help explaining me through the process would be great.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Looks like an energy conversion problem. You could write
initial energy = final energy
then put in expressions for the various kinds of energy it has. Don't forget the gravitational potential energy.
 
  • #3
Alright thanks imma work on this problem and see what i get as an answer
 

What is spring potential energy?

Spring potential energy is the energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched. It is a form of potential energy because it has the potential to do work when released.

What are the factors that affect spring potential energy?

The factors that affect spring potential energy are the spring constant, the amount of compression or stretch, and the mass attached to the spring. The greater the spring constant or the amount of compression/stretch, the greater the potential energy. The mass attached to the spring also affects the potential energy as it affects the amount of force applied to the spring.

How is spring potential energy calculated?

The formula for calculating spring potential energy is PE = 1/2kx², where PE is the potential energy, k is the spring constant, and x is the amount of compression or stretch.

What is the difference between spring potential energy and elastic potential energy?

Spring potential energy and elastic potential energy are essentially the same thing. Both refer to the energy stored in a spring when it is compressed or stretched. However, elastic potential energy can also refer to the energy stored in other elastic materials such as rubber bands or bungee cords.

How is spring potential energy used in real-life applications?

Spring potential energy is used in a variety of real-life applications such as in clocks, watches, and shock absorbers in vehicles. It is also utilized in sports equipment like trampolines and pogo sticks. Additionally, it is a key concept in understanding the motion of objects in simple harmonic motion.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
21
Views
612
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
29
Views
907
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
441
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
963
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
15
Views
249
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
28
Views
2K
Back
Top