A spring with a constant of 1/5 (kg)/s^215kgs2 is lying on the ground with one end attached to a wall. An object with a mass of 1 kg1kg and speed of 2 m/s2ms collides with and compresses the spring until it stops moving. How much will the spring compress?

1 Answer
Jun 17, 2017

The compression is =4.47m=4.47m

Explanation:

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The spring constant is k=1/5kgs^-2k=15kgs2

The kinetic energy of the object is

KE=1/2m u^2KE=12mu2

The mass is m=1kgm=1kg

The speed is u=2ms^-1u=2ms1

KE=1/2*1*(2)^2=2JKE=121(2)2=2J

This kinetic energy will be stored in the spring as potential energy.

PE=2JPE=2J

So,

1/2kx^2=212kx2=2

x^2=(4)/(1/5)=20m^2x2=415=20m2

x=sqrt(20)=4.47mx=20=4.47m