A ball with a mass of #200# #g# is projected vertically by a spring loaded contraption. The spring in the contraption has a spring constant of #54# # kgs^-2# and was compressed by #7/4# #m# when the ball was released. How high will the ball go?
1 Answer
Jun 4, 2016
The spring potential energy of the spring will be converted into kinetic energy as the ball flies upward, then into gravitational potential energy as it reaches the top of its flight. Its highest point will be at
Explanation:
The spring potential energy is given by:
Where
We need to express measurements in SI units, so the
We don't need to calculate the kinetic energy, we can move straight to the gravitational potential, which will be equal to the spring potential energy:
Rearranging: