In the figure below, a 4.3 kg block is accelerated from rest by a compressed spr
ID: 1541145 • Letter: I
Question
In the figure below, a 4.3 kg block is accelerated from rest by a compressed spring of spring constant 640 N/m. The block leaves the spring at the spring's relaxed length and then travels over a horizontal floor with a coefficient of kinetic friction k = 0.25. The frictional force stops the block in distance 8.7 m. (a) What is the increase in the thermal kinetic energy of the block floor system? J (b) What was the maximum kinetic energy of the block? J (c) What was the original compression distance of the spring? m
Explanation / Answer
Given that
A block of mass (m) =4.3kg
Spring constant (k) =640N/m
The coefficient of kinetic friction k = 0.25.
The frictional force stops the block in distance (d) = 8.7 m
a)
The increase in thermal kinetic energy is due to friction is given by
W =F.d =ukmgd =0.25*4.3*9.81*8.7 =91.748J
b)
The maximum kinetic energy is given by
DletaKE =KEfinal -KEinital
Now KEfinal =0
KE inital =Workdone = 91.748J
c)
We know that
KE =(1/2)kx2
Then x=Sqrt(2KE/k) =Sqrt(2*91.748J/640N/m) =0.535m