A spring with a constant of 2/5 (kg)/s^2 is lying on the ground with one end attached to a wall. An object with a mass of 7/5 kg and speed of 5/4 m/s collides with and compresses the spring until it stops moving. How much will the spring compress?

1 Answer
May 2, 2017

The spring will compress by =2.34m

Explanation:

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

The kinetic energy of the object is

KE=1/2m u^2

KE=1/2*7/5*(5/4)^2=1.09375J

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

PE=1.03975J

So,

1/2kx^2=1.03975

x^2=1.03975*2/(2/5)=5.46875m^2

x=sqrt(5.46875)=2.34m