Work and Energy Conservation, Need

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a spring launching a block on a frictionless surface and an incline with kinetic friction. The user initially calculates the final velocity of the block using energy conservation principles but struggles to find the correct distance it travels through the air. After several attempts, they discover that the correct approach involves accounting for both potential energy at the top of the incline and the work done against friction. Ultimately, the correct distance traveled by the block is approximately 3.74 meters, confirmed by a more accurate method shared by another participant. The conversation highlights the importance of correctly applying energy conservation and understanding the effects of friction in such problems.
BryceHarper
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Homework Statement



The spring in the figure has a spring constant of 1000 N/m. It is compressed 13.0 cm, then launches a 200 g block. The horizontal surface is frictionless, but the block's coefficient of kinetic friction on the incline is 0.220. What distance does the block sail through the air?

knight_Figure_11_72.jpg


Homework Equations


.5(k)(x^2)
.5(m)(V^2)
Wnc=Ef-Ei

The Attempt at a Solution


I think I'm pretty close to solving this problem but I'm messing up somewhere...

I know I need to find the final velocity of the mass right when it gets to the top of the incline so I'm going to use Wnc=Ef-Ei. (To find Ei I used potential energy of a spring formula .5(k)(x^2).

So...
-μk(cosθ)(m)(g)(L)=.5(m)(Vf^2)+(m)(g)(h)-.5(k)(x^2)

The distance the mass traveled up the incline is L so L=2/sin45

-.22(cos45)(.2)(9.8)(2/sin45)=.5(.2)(Vf^2)+.2(9.8)(2)-.5(1000)(.13^2)

I get that Vf=1.38m/s

To find the distance I simply use R=Vf^2/g and get .19 but it's wrong? Can someone help me out??!
 
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I ended up using all my attempt on mastering physics and the answer ended up being 3.74m but I still don't know how to come up with that value?
 
I assume you can calculate the initial energy given to the block by the spring. The kinetic energy at the top of the incline will be that minus
(1) the potential energy at the top of the incline.
(2) the work done against friction on the incline.
 
I found this interesting as I'll be working on this soon in class, so I tried it myself. HallsofIvy's method worked perfectly, thanks! Answer came out to 3.738 m.
 
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By the way, it also works to use linear motion formulas, though it takes a tiny bit longer. You can get the initial velocity (v0) at the bottom of the ramp from the initial KE, then (I'm using a coordinate system of +x up the ramp), find the x components of acceleration due to kinetic friction and gravity. Integrate this acceleration and use the v0 in the velocity function, then integrate again leaving s0 = 0. Now you have linear motion functions for the ramp portion. You know the ramp is 2sqrt(2) m long, so set the position function s(t) = 2sqrt(2) and solve for t, then plug that into the velocity function to get the initial velocity at the top of the ramp for your projectile motion problem.

I screwed this up the first several times I tried to calculate it by trying to take the velocity coming off the spring, and multiplying it by cos45 to get the initial velocity for the ramp's linear motion formulas. That was wrong, the velocity doesn't change magnitude, just direction.
 
]So...
-μk(cosθ)(m)(g)(L)=.5(m)(Vf^2)+(m)(g)(h)-.5(k)(x^2)

The distance the mass traveled up the incline is L so L=2/sin45

-.22(cos45)(.2)(9.8)(2/sin45)=.5(.2)(Vf^2)+.2(9.8)(2)-.5(1000)(.13^2)

I get that Vf=1.38m/s

To find the distance I simply use R=Vf^2/g and get .19 but it's wrong? Can someone help me out??!

......
Everything ok
Check your calculation.

v2f=36.67
d=36.67/9.8=3.7m
 
Last edited:
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