Vertical distance of mass shot from a compressed spring.

[howsockgothap]

Homework Statement

A 0.110 kg dart is fired straight up. Find the vertical distance the dart travels from its position when the spring is compressed to its highest position.

This is the second part of a question. The first part was to calculate the maximum compression... I calculated 0.1558 m from a potential energy of 0.74 J and a spring constant of 61 N/m. I've had this answer confirmed.

Homework Equations

E=1/2kx^2 and maybe E=1/2mv^2

The Attempt at a Solution

To be honests my attempts have involved me staring at a blank page. I think I just need a little push, because the issue is that I am unsure how to start!

 

[MillerGenuine]

You should post the entire question to make things more clear. So we can see what variables are given etc. This seems to be a pretty straight forward conservation of energy problem. Set your initial conditions equal to your final conditions and solve. you should have your spring potential energy equal to your final gravitational potential energy. this will allow you to find height.

 

[howsockgothap]

The question in its entirety was: The potential energy stored in the compressed spring of a dart gun, with a spring constant of 61.00 N/m, is 0.74 J. Find by how much is the spring is compressed.

(The answer to that was 0.1558 m)
Part B was...
A 0.110 kg dart is fired straight up. Find the vertical distance the dart travels from its position when the spring is compressed to its highest position.

...Anyway, you were right, it was a very simple conservation question. Thanks!