An object moving along a horizontal track collides with and compresses a light s
ID: 1433393 • Letter: A
Question
An object moving along a horizontal track collides with and compresses a light spring (which obeys Hooke's Law) located at the end of the track. The spring constant is
43.9 N/m, the mass of the object 0.300 kg and the speed of the object is 1.30 m/s immediately before the collision.
(a) Determine the spring's maximum compression if the track is frictionless.
m
(b) If the track is not frictionless, will the spring's maximum compression be greater than, less than, or equal to the value obtained in part (a)?
greater than, less than or equal to?
Explanation / Answer
a) the law of conservation of energy 0.5*k*x^2 = 0.5*m*v^2
where k=43.9 N/m, m=0.3 kg , v=1.30 m/s, x - maximum compression
So, 0.5*43.9*x^2 = 0.5*0.3*1.3^2
x= 0.107 m
b) If the track is not frictionless, the spring's maximum compression will be less than to the value obtained in part (a)