Springs, friction, angles, and energy

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the speed of a circus performer, The Great Sandini, shot from a spring gun with a force constant of 1400 N/m. The problem involves using Hooke's Law and the conservation of energy theorem to determine the final speed after accounting for friction. Initial calculations yielded speeds of 15.1 m/s and 14.8 m/s after adjustments for friction and potential energy. The final correct speed, after resolving the equation with proper signs and values, is confirmed to be 14.8 m/s.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Hooke's Law and spring constants
  • Knowledge of the conservation of energy principle
  • Familiarity with friction forces and their impact on motion
  • Ability to perform calculations involving potential and kinetic energy
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the application of Hooke's Law in different contexts
  • Study the conservation of energy in mechanical systems
  • Learn about the effects of friction on motion and energy loss
  • Explore advanced problems involving springs and projectile motion
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in mechanics, particularly those studying energy transformations and spring dynamics.

melodrameric
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
i have been given the following problem from everyone's favorite, mastering physics.
"The Great Sandini is a circus performer with mass 60.0 kg who is shot from a cannon (actually a spring gun). You don't find many men of his caliber, so you help him design a new gun. This new gun has a very large spring with a very small mass and a force constant of 1400 N/m that he will compress with a force of 4800 N. The inside of the gun barrel is coated with Teflon, so the average friction force will be only 35.0 N during the distance of 4.90 m that he moves in the barrel. At what speed will he emerge from the end of the barrel, a distance 2.60 m above his initial rest position?"

Now, i used hooke's law to find the distance he will travel while still touching the spring.
F = k * x
4800 N = 1400 N/m * x
3.43 m = x
Then, i used the conservation of energy theorem,
Potential(i) + Kinetic(i) + W(friction) = Potential(f) + Kinetic(f)
1/2*k*x^2 + 1/2*m*v^2 + (F*d) = m*g*h + 1/2*m*v^2
1/2*(1400)*(3.43)^2 + 1/2*(60)*(0)^2 + (35)(4.9) = (60)*(9.8)*(2.6) + 1/2*(60)*v^2
8240 J + 172 J = 1530 J +30*v^2
229 m^2/s^2= v^2
15.1 m/s = v

I submitted this answer to mastering physics and it told me i was close and that i may have made a rounding or significant figures error. i submitted 15.2 just to check, and i got the same feedback, maybe it's 15.0?
I think i may have done hooke's law wrong, and that in fact the distance should be twice what i found, using F*x = 1/2*k*x^2, but i only have one attempt left and i want to be sure. Using the second spring potential energy formula and plugging it into the conservation of energy theorem, my answer is 32.4 m/s.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There's something wrong with the way that you've set up the equation. Make sure you've got the right signs (i.e. plus or minus) on everything, and that everything is on the correct side of the equation.
 
ok, so I've just checked my notes and the absolute value of friction should be on the other side of the equation.
Potential(i) + Kinetic(i) = Potention(f) + Kinetic(f) + |W(friction)|

with that, i come out with 14.8 m/s as my final answer.
is that right?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
1K
Replies
17
Views
2K
Replies
29
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K